I have questioned the decision to raise train fares by almost 4% as ScotRail services in Fife still fail to meet public expectations. The level of increase from April for all ScotRail fares is 3.8 per cent (https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/rail-fares-increase-level-confirmed-3/) which follows a 8.7 per cent hike last April (https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/rail-fares-increase-level-confirmed-2/) and the re-introduction of peak fares in September (https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/scotrail-peak-fare-removal-pilot-report-published/).
I have been regularly raising my concerns that ScotRail services in Fife are the worst in the country with Transport Secretary, Fiona Hyslop MSP, and ScotRail senior management directly.
My concerns include: the use of older trains for Fife journeys; the use of short-form trains, when trains arrive with a lower-than-expected number of carriages; and delays and cancellations.
In a response to these concerns, ScotRail admitted the services provided in Fife “simply has not been good enough” and Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop MSP confirmed she has told ScotRail management staff that “the situation in Fife must improve as quickly as possible” as Fife commuters’ service “does not yet meet standards required from ScotRail.”
Despite slow progress on ensuring a good quality service, the Scottish Government is yet again raising rail fares for commuters across Scotland. It is simply not acceptable to expect the public to continue paying more and more for a service that is subpar and is forcing people back into cars and away from public transport options due to unreliability.
I hear from constituents regularly that they are crushed like sardines on short form trains and that delays and cancellations have meant they do not feel like they can rely on train services for their daily commutes. This is the exact opposite of what we should be doing – the government keep hiking up prices and pricing people off the railways while saying they want more people to leave the car at home.
I have been pleased with the engagement I have had with the Transport Secretary and ScotRail over my concerns with Fife services but the time for warm words is over – we need urgent action if we want more people on our rail services.
