The SNP have hailed a record month for ScotRail, after new figures showed passenger numbers hit an all-time high.
Annual statistics published by the Office for Rail and Road showed that 90.8 million journeys were taken on ScotRail trains in 2025/26 compared with 84.7m the previous year.
The data also showed that 8.4m journeys were made in July 2026 – including ScotRail’s busiest week since the train operator returned to public ownership, with nearly 2.1m journeys in the final week of the month.
The same month in 2025 saw nearly 900,000 fewer passengers. Although, the increase this year came during a particularly busy period for Scotland’s transport network, as the Commonwealth Games attracted thousands of extra visitors.
The SNP, however, also hailed the impact of the party scrapping peak rail fairs exactly one year ago.
“As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the SNP scrapping peak rail fares, it’s brilliant to see passenger numbers have soared,” Katie Hagmann said.
“Ending peak rail fares has proved just the ticket for hardworking Scots with commuters saving hundreds of pounds every year on ScotRail services.”
The MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley added: “Last year over 90m journeys were taken as people across the country took advantage of cheaper fares and it is absolutely right we continue to support people through the Westminster made cost of living crisis.
“By bringing our trains back into public ownership, we can take decisions based on passenger needs rather than on profit margins – we’ve frozen fares too to get even more folk on our trains and saving cash.
“That’s what you get from the SNP under John Swinney’s trusted leadership – real action to help put more money in people’s pockets as bills continue to spiral under the Labour Party.
“This shows what is possible when decisions about Scotland are made here in Scotland, for Scotland. Just imagine how much further we could go with the fresh start of independence.”
