The temporary removal of peak fares on ScotRail showed a ‘limited degree of success‘, according to a report published by Transport Scotland today.

The pilot began on 2 October 2023, and is due to end on 27 September this year. The Scottish Government subsidised the temporary removal of peak fares to encourage modal shift from private car to rail while making rail travel more affordable and accessible over the pilot period. The cost of the full year subsidy was approximately £40 million.

The success of the pilot has been measured through the analysis published today, which uses daily patronage data from April 2022 to the start of July this year, covering a period before the pilot and nine months of the test period.

This analysis shows that while there has been a limited increase in the number of passengers during the pilot, it did not achieve its aims of encouraging a significant modal shift.

The Scottish Government said it was now bringing the pilot to an end next month because it was facing ‘financial challenges‘.

Transport secretary Fiona Hyslop said: ‘The pilot primarily benefited existing train passengers and those with medium to higher incomes. Although passenger levels increased to a maximum of around 6.8 per cent, it would require a 10 per cent increase in passenger numbers for the policy to be self-financing.

‘The pilot will have been welcome in saving many passengers hundreds and in some cases thousands of pounds during the cost of living crisis but this level of subsidy cannot continue in the current financial climate on that measure alone.

‘I am aware, however, that a significant minority of people who cannot choose when they travel to and from work did and would benefit from lower priced rail travel – these are people who might find the return to peak fares challenging.

‘I can therefore announce the introduction of a 12-month discount on all ScotRail season tickets and permanently amending the terms of flexipasses to allow for 12 single journeys for the price of 10, used within 60 days, equivalent to a 20 per cent discount for those who travel less frequently. Super off-peak tickets will also be reintroduced.

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