Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 11 September 2024
11 Sep 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Rail Fares
Just before Parliament returned from the summer recess, Fiona Hyslop announced that peak fares will be returning to Scotland’s railways. There was no debate—that was it. Well, here is the debate today, and Parliament can give its view. I hope that the Government listens.
Transport Scotland declared the trial of having a simpler and lower fare structure to have been unsuccessful, even though it led to more people using the trains. With fares having been raised by 9 per cent in April, passengers are to be hit with a double whammy in just 16 days, which will result in someone commuting between Edinburgh and Glasgow facing fares that are nearly double what they were at the start of the year.
When Fiona Hyslop faced a barrage of questions on the topic last week, all she had in her locker was a bizarre claim that people will pay less if they take advantage of season tickets or something called a flexipass, which friends tell me is fiendishly complicated. All that begs the question of the transport secretary, if there is money for her new complicated rail discount schemes, why does she not use some of it to scrap peak fares, which passengers overwhelmingly prefer?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-14405, in the name of Graham Simpson, on ending peak rail fares on ScotRail trains. I ask members who wis...
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Just before Parliament returned from the summer recess, Fiona Hyslop announced that peak fares will be returning to Scotland’s railways. There was no debate—...
The Cabinet Secretary for Transport (Fiona Hyslop)
SNP
I point the member, who I am sure is a regular rail user, to the position in his Central Scotland region. Take a rail journey from Airdrie to Edinburgh. If p...
Graham Simpson
Con
My fare from East Kilbride to Edinburgh will rocket by 83.8 per cent. That is not a saving. In March, the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Fir...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
It is a pity that the off-peak fares pilot did not create the greater patronage that was expected to cover the costs. Did Mr Simpson take full advantage of ...
Graham Simpson
Con
I regularly use the train, and my staff use the train all the time. It is just going to become more expensive for them now. That is a real shame, and Mr Stew...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Fiona Hyslop, the cabinet secretary, to speak to and move amendment S6M-14405.3. 16:11
The Cabinet Secretary for Transport (Fiona Hyslop)
SNP
Last October, we introduced the ScotRail peak fares removal pilot, supported by £40 million in Government funding. It was a bold and pioneering initiative, w...
Graham Simpson
Con
When the cabinet secretary announced the decision, she admitted that, in some cases, people had saved thousands of pounds through the pilot. Does she agree, ...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
Although it saved many passengers hundreds and, in some cases, thousands of pounds during the period, it primarily benefited existing train passengers and th...
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
I am sorry, but I cannot give way, as I have limited time. I wanted the pilot to succeed, and I am disappointed that it did not. The moderate increase in pa...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Alex Rowley to speak to and move amendment S6M-14405.2. 16:16
Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
First, I want to highlight the difference in approach between the Scottish National Party and Scottish Labour on the issue of peak rail fares. The SNP’s view...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
Will the member give way? It is an important point.
Alex Rowley
Lab
No. I am sorry, but I have only a few minutes left. During that unprecedented time, rail use increased by 6.8 per cent, which was incredible, given all that...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Mr Rowley, you are over your time.
Alex Rowley
Lab
I support the motion. I move amendment S6M-14405.2, to insert at end: “, and agrees that making public transport more accessible, affordable and reliable i...
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Green
I welcome the fact that the Tories have chosen the cream of the crop of Scottish Green policies to champion in the chamber. Whether that is just blatant oppo...
Finlay Carson
Con
Will the member give way?
Mark Ruskell
Green
Is there time in hand, Presiding Officer?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
There is no time in hand. It is up to the member whether to take an intervention.
Mark Ruskell
Green
I need to progress. I am sorry. Ticket prices for the most popular Edinburgh to Glasgow route will more than double, from £14.90 to a staggering £31.40. Tha...
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
I welcome the opportunity to speak on behalf of Scottish Liberal Democrats this afternoon. We will support the motion and the Labour amendment, but we will n...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
There were four campaigns during the pilot, with 4 million views on pay television and a radio podcast. People in my town received an A3 fold-out print. Ther...
Beatrice Wishart
LD
The RMT briefing states that it believes that the methodology that the Scottish Government used to evaluate the trial did not look at demand at peak time, wh...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We move to the open debate. Back benchers’ speeches should be of up to four minutes. There is no time in hand. 16:29
Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
Despite his authoritarian misrule, Benito Mussolini is credited with making Italy’s trains run on time. In fact, a look back in time reveals that he did not,...
Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee City West) (SNP)
SNP
Shameful!
Craig Hoy
Con
—smiling for photographers when she proudly opened East Linton station, which has been warmly welcomed and is much needed by the community.