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ScotRail Punitive Fare Hike Will Impact on Climate Targets
By RMT Press Office - National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, April 1, 2024
Rail union, RMT union has slammed ScotRail's decision to hike fares by 8.7% from April 1st, exactly two years since the railway came under public ownership.
This punitive price increase comes at a time when the Scottish Government itself is running a successful off-peak fares trial, effectively removing peak fares entirely.
RMT is calling on the Scottish Government to make this off-peak fares trial permanent, otherwise passengers face the return of significantly increased peak fares from June.
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: "This fare hike is terrible news for ScotRail passengers and a betrayal of the promises made when public ownership was introduced.
"The counter-productive move will push people back into their cars at a time when we desperately need to be encouraging a shift to sustainable and environmentally friendly public transport."
The RMT demands the Scottish Government make the off-peak fares trial permanent, preventing the return of extortionate peak fares from June.
Failing to do so will have a negative impact on passenger usage of trains and endanger Scotland's climate change targets.
Mr Lynch added: "The Committee on Climate Change recently made it clear – Scotland's current approach to transport isn't delivering the emissions reductions needed.
"Making rail affordable, accessible, and reliable is essential.
"This fare increase undermines all of that. The Scottish Government needs to get serious about putting passengers and the planet first."
RMT urges the Scottish Government to act decisively to reverse this damaging fare hike and commit to long-term policies that make rail the natural choice for passengers, not an affordable luxury.
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