Commenting on the latest rise in rail fares to hit Fife, MSP Alex Rowley is calling on the SNP Government in Edinburgh to bring Scotrail into public ownership and invest the profits into better services and affordable fares.
Mr Rowley said:
“We have spent the last year fighting for better services in Fife and an end to the station skipping which has left so many standing at the station as their train fails to stop. Rail passengers report regularly of overcrowded trains around peak times and often unpleasant journeys and yet, they will have to pay more for the pleasure.”
An annual season ticket from Dunfermline to Edinburgh will rise by £55.81, Cowdenbeath to Edinburgh will rise by £65.54, Inverkeithing to Edinburgh rises by £49.15 whilst Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh will go up by £73.60.
The Labour politician continued:
“At a time where most people’s wages are still below 2010 levels and are barely keeping up with inflation, ramping up the cost of getting to work will place even greater strains on household budgets and then to add insult to injury they are being charged even more for services that have been plagued by delays, overcrowding and station skipping.
“Labour will bring these services under public control and redirect the profits back into the services. The irony is that the operator of Scotrail is state owned, the Dutch State with the profits being poured back into the Netherlands and the Dutch national rail system. You really could not make it up and it is now time for the Scottish Government to act in the best interest of the people of Fife and Scotland and take these services into public ownership.
“It is incredible that the Scottish Government are trying to get more people out of cars and onto public transport but do nothing to stop people being priced off public transport”.
Scotrail Ticket Price Hike 3.2% from January 2019
Annual Season Tickets:
Inverkeithing to Edinburgh – Current: £1536 Will rise: £49.15 From Jan 2019: £1585.15
Dunfermline to Edinburgh – Current: £1744 Will rise: £55.81 From Jan 2019: £1799.81
Cowdenbeath to Edinburgh – Current: £2048 Will rise: £65.54 From Jan 2019: £2113.54
Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh – Current: £2300 Will rise: £73.60 From Jan 2019: £2373.60
