Scotland's peak rail fares return after flat rate trial fails to add passengers

Scottish ministers will reintroduce peak rail fares across the country after an experiment with flat rate fares failed to significantly increase passenger numbers.

- Severin Carrell

Trade unions and opposition parties condemned the decision, and accused the Scottish government of presiding over a shambolic rail service and of failing to adequately tackle the climate crisis.

The year-long pilot scheme to abolish peak fares was introduced as part of the Scottish National party's power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens. It was designed to encourage people to cut their car usage and mitigate soaring living costs.