Train passengers across Ayrshire faced ‘brutal’ price hikes this week after a Scottish Government-imposed 3.8 per cent increase came into effect.
The latest rise, which came into effect on Monday, is the highest in a decade- with peak prices rocketing by 38 per cent since the start of 2012.
It means an Ayr to Glasgow season ticket holder will now pay £2744, a £100 increase on the 2021 price of £2644.
The Scottish Government has introduced the increase earlier than the UK government, who are waiting until March before hitting passengers in England with the same increase.
Now a South Scotland Labour MSP has accused the SNP Government of making a “reckless” decision to hike fares- only months before Scotland’s railways are brought into public ownership.
Colin Smyth, Scottish Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy & Transport & Rural Affairs, said: “It is wildly reckless to hit passengers with this brutal rip-off fare rise while a cost of living crisis rages on.
“South Scotland’s passengers will be forced to cough up extra money, months before the rest of the UK because of the SNP’s decision to plough ahead with this increase. Slapping passengers with the biggest hike in a decade, months before ScotRail is taken into public hands, is an utterly shameful start.
“The latest hike means peak prices on ScotRail services have risen by an eye watering 38 per cent since 2012 and come at a time that services are being axed compared to pre-pandemic levels and ticket offices are having their hours slashed.
“It’s not as much ScotRail under this Government, but ScotFail.
“If the SNP are happy to let fares spiral and routes be decimated, then their takeover will mean little more than a fresh coat of paint.”
He added: “We need to show some real ambition for the future of ScotRail, so that we can finally put passengers first and build the green, affordable railway service we need.”
Transport Scotland said the price increase was “essential to their wider recovery plans.”
A spokesperson said: “Work also continues on our Fair Fares review, looking at the range of discounts and concessionary schemes that are available on all modes including rail, bus and ferry and informing the development of a sustainable and integrated approach to future public transport fares.
“We know that any increase in fares is unwelcome for passengers, however, the changes we are implementing this year are essential to our wider recovery plans. Scottish rail fares remain, on average, 20 per cent lower than across the rest of Great Britain.”
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