Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 03 February 2022
Had the amendment in my name been chosen this afternoon, it would have called on the Scottish Government to expand eligibility for railcards, so that everyone is eligible to get the benefit of rail discounts and is encouraged to take climate-friendly transport. That would be based on the model that already exists throughout London and the south-east, and would mean that everyone would be eligible to get one third off the price of rail travel. Scottish Liberal Democrats also propose a 50 per cent concession for those who already qualify for railcards. That would slash the cost of rail travel for passengers and encourage people to ditch their cars, which would reduce emissions and tip the balance in favour of climate-friendly transport. I will say more about reducing emissions in rural, remote and island areas, which do not have that option, a little later.
With Abellio’s ScotRail contract coming to an end this March, we have the opportunity to revisit the approach that is taken on rail fares and discounts. Of course, we also await the Scottish Government’s fair fares review, but it is clear from the recent news headlines and the debate that was held earlier today that we must do all that we can to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.
Families and businesses are being hit from every angle by rising prices, so it is hard to take the SNP-Green Government’s commitment to decarbonisation seriously when the cost of the most environmentally friendly form of mass transportation increases every year. Indeed, an eye-watering fare increase of 3.8 per cent last month was the biggest hike in the past 10 years. There seems to be a clear lack of vision on the climate emergency.
Scotland’s transport emissions are stubbornly high and are unchanged since the 1990s. One way that we can tackle that is by getting people out of cars and on to our railways and public transport, but that will not happen if costs to passengers add up. It is not just costs to passengers that will be an obstacle to reducing emissions; a reduction in services will be, too. How can we expect passengers to seriously consider rail travel if it is unlikely that there will be a consistent service on their usual routes? As we begin to resume some form of normal life, we need to ensure that commuters do not find it easier to use their cars than travel by rail.
I turn to rural, remote and island areas, such as my constituency, Shetland. Hopping on a train is not an option in an islander’s day-to-day life. If you ask a Shetlander where their nearest train station is, do not be surprised to hear them answer “Bergen”. Extending programmes such as the under-22s bus concession to include free ferry travel, however, would not only be equitable but would encourage young people into the habit of ditching cars in favour of public transport—if that transport is properly connected—which would further reduce emissions.
Scottish Liberal Democrats want to give people new hope for the climate emergency. We all know that we must act fast before it is too late. We want to see an efficient and green rail network that gives everyone railcard discounts instead of ever-increasing prices. We need to make sure that rural bus services are more accessible and that they tie in with rail timetables.
I urge the Scottish Government to up its efforts to open or reopen rail connections to the communities that are crying out for them, such as Newburgh, while upgrades to the far north line and dualling of the Highland mainline would benefit rural communities in the north of Scotland. That is a serious, ambitious and credible proposal for boosting rail travel. It would be good for our environment and good for our economy, too.