Motion
Cheaper Rail Fares
S6M-16572 · Motion For Debate · lodged by Ruskell, Mark
Lodged on
24 Feb 2025Heard / answered on
26 Feb 2025Watch the chamber session on SPTV · lands on the meetings recorded on 26 Feb 2025
That the Parliament believes that rail fares in Scotland must be cheaper; regrets the decision by the Scottish Government to end the off-peak all-day pilot in September 2024, despite an increase of passenger demand by 6.8% and an average 17% cost saving to passengers; understands that expensive and complex ticketing deters passengers from choosing to travel by train; acknowledges that, in order to fulfil the Scottish Government’s ambition of reducing car kilometres by 20% by 2030, rail services and public transport must be cheaper and more accessible, and calls, therefore, on the Scottish Government to reverse the 3.8% increase to rail fares coming into effect from 1 April 2025, to permanently remove peak-time rail fares, and to simplify public transport fares, through the introduction of integrated ticketing, as soon as possible.
Backed by
Supported by 6 additional MSPs
Green 6
Lodged by
Ruskell, Mark
(Scottish Green Party).
- Burgess, Ariane (Green)
- Chapman, Maggie (Green)
- Greer, Ross (Green)
- Harvie, Patrick (Green)
- Mackay, Gillian (Green)
- Slater, Lorna (Green)
Final vote on motion (as amended)
26 Feb 2025
Carried
Show MSPs
For
65Against
54Abstain
0Not voted
10Amendments incorporated
- S6M-16572.3 Hyslop, Fiona — carried 64/55: As an amendment to motion S6M-16572 in the name of Mark Ruskell (Cheaper Rail Fares), leave out from first “fares” to end and insert “and bus fares must be affordable to encourage the use of public t...
In the Official Report
Debated in chamber — 5 contributions reference this
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The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
Chamber
· 26 Feb 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 26 February 2025
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16572, in the name of Mark Ruskell, on cheaper rail fares. I invite members who wish to speak in the debate to press their request-to-speak buttons…
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 26 Feb 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 26 February 2025
I remind members that, if the amendment in the name of Fiona Hyslop is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Claire Baker will fall. The next question is, that amendment S6M-16572.3, in the name o…
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 26 Feb 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 26 February 2025
The next question is, that amendment S6M-16572.1, in the name of Sue Webber, which seeks to amend motion S6M-16572, in the name of Mark Ruskell, on cheaper rail fares, be agreed to. Are we agreed? M…
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 26 Feb 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 26 February 2025
The next question is, that motion S6M-16572, in the name of Mark Ruskell, on cheaper rail fares, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 26 Feb 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 26 February 2025
The result of the division on motion S6M-16572, in the name of Mark Ruskell, on cheaper rail fares, as amended, is: For 65, Against 54, Abstentions 0. Motion, as amended, agreed to, That the Parlia…
Amendments and how the chamber decided
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S6M-16572Selected itemCarried 65/5424 Feb 2025 · Motion For Debate · Ruskell, MarkThat the Parliament believes that rail fares in Scotland must be cheaper; regrets the decision by the Scottish Government to end the off-peak all-day pilot in September 2024, despite an increase of passenger demand by 6.8% and an average 17% cost saving to passengers; understands that expensive and complex ticketing deters passengers from choosing to...
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S6M-16572.1Linked amendment/itemDefeated 28/8525 Feb 2025 · Amendment · Webber, SueAs an amendment to motion S6M-16572 in the name of Mark Ruskell (Cheaper Rail Fares) insert at end “; notes that the operation of ScotRail has cost £600 million more compared to when it was in private hands, and that rail fares also increased by 8.7% in the 2024-25 financial year; calls on the Scottish Government to deliver value for money for...
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S6M-16572.2Linked amendment/item25 Feb 2025 · Amendment · Baker, ClaireAs an amendment to motion S6M-16572 in the name of Mark Ruskell (Cheaper Rail Fares), insert at end “; recognises that ScotRail requires investment and sustainable funding, but believes that passengers should not carry the burden of this while services are underperforming.”
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S6M-16572.3Linked amendment/itemCarried 64/5525 Feb 2025 · Amendment · Hyslop, FionaAs an amendment to motion S6M-16572 in the name of Mark Ruskell (Cheaper Rail Fares), leave out from first “fares” to end and insert “and bus fares must be affordable to encourage the use of public transport; welcomes that rail passenger numbers, since the off-peak all-day pilot ended, have continued to grow, with demand in each four-wee...