East Lothian commuters have their say on peak time fares

The Courier reported last week that some passengers in the county were set to be hit with a price rise of more than 70 per cent as a year-long trial of offering off-peak fares at peak times came to a close at the end of the week.

On Monday morning, the Courier headed to Musselburgh Railway Station and discussed the impact of the end of the scheme with commuters.

The Scottish Government previously concluded that the costs did not justify continuing the trial; as a result, a peak-time return train between Musselburgh and Edinburgh has now increased by 29.27 per cent, from £4.10 to £5.30.

READ MORE: Loss of off-peak fares at peak times means 70% price rise for some passengers

Rory Allan (pictured below) is currently studying public relations at Queen Margaret University, commuting from Edinburgh for his readings; he estimates that the change will set him back nearly £20 more a month. 

Rory Allan, a student at Queen Margaret University, has estimated that the train will cost him nearly £20 extra a month (Image: NQ Staff)

The 33-year-old travels to Musselburgh four times a week for classes and other activities, saying: "I don't normally pay for my tickets monthly, only when I come to university. 

"Today I paid £5.30 instead of my usual £4.10, but that is now the price of a peak-time ticket.

"I do understand that prices need to go up and £1.10 extra doesn't sound a lot, but I've added that up and it is close to almost £20 a month extra. 

"It is a real shame when everything is going up, to pay more for what you already have and £20 is close to what I pay for my phone bill.

"As a student who relies on public transport for university, it is the last thing you want to go up."

The Courier spoke to a number of people at Musselburgh Railway Station to hear their thoughts on the change (Image: NQ Staff) Sarah Cairney, 46, a Musselburgh resident, has found it cheaper to buy a ScotRail flexi-pass but is "not convinced". 

She said: "I am office based and I only need to go in three times a week, so I dropped to flexi-pass but the pass actually woks out cheaper per journey than what the previous off-peak was, but I am not convinced. 

"You just don't have that freedom as much because you only have a limited time to use the flexi pass and I don't work every week in the office, sometimes there are chunks of time I am not in at all and sometimes I'll be in Edinburgh for weekends.

"But I don't mind about on-peak prices being brought back, but what worries me now is the future of pricing structure between the fare prices." 

Musselburgh resident Gareth Roberts travels in five days a week for work and has also taken out a flexi-pass for the train going in and out of Edinburgh. 

He said: "Instead of paying £4.10 a day, I have taken out a flexi-pass and that costs me £21.70 from Musselburgh to Edinburgh.

"It is sad for people who have to pay more and it is a bit annoying instead of paying for an off-peak during on-peak you have to pay for the full price, but thinking about it, it has only reverted back to what it was, so nothing really has changed." 

Claire Dickie, ScotRail commercial director, said: “The peak fares trial may be coming to an end, but we are introducing new ways for customers to lock in great value on their regular peak-time train travel.

“From September 28, enhanced discounts with season tickets and flexi-pass mean customers can continue to save on peak-time rail travel.

“Whether you’re commuting daily or traveling frequently on the same route, we’ll continue to offer you great value on a safe, reliable and green form of public transport.”

Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, said: “My ministerial colleagues and I understand the end of this pilot will be disappointing for many rail users, particularly those who cannot choose when they travel to and from work.

"The 12-month discount on all ScotRail season tickets – coupled with the significant savings to be made using flexi-pass – is aimed at offering value savings for those very passengers.

“While the peak fares removal pilot was a welcome incentive over the last 12 months, analysis has shown it would have required a 10 per cent increase in passenger numbers for the policy to be self-financing, and a more significant modal shift.

"The Scottish Government would be open to consider future subsidy to remove peak fares should UK budget allocations improve in future years.”

More information on ScotRail pricing can be found here.