The Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme (SCTS) Joint Committee has approved a revision to the scheme’s fare structure, effective from 1 September, to align with the pending removal of peak fares on ScotRail services.

Following Scottish Minister’s decision to reduce the cost of peak time rail travel by removing peak fares permanently from 1 September, the SCTS Joint Committee has had to consider the consequences for the SCTS objectives and its financial stability, and the current reimbursement arrangements to ScotRail. The Joint Committee, made up of representatives from all 12 local authorities who fund the scheme, has now approved plans to adjust concession fares to discount rail fares by one-third off the new off-peak return tickets and single fares. Previously the discount was half the more expensive Anytime fares.

The one-third discount, now available on a much-reduced fare, still offers a significant saving for users. The SCTS is one of only a very few local discretionary rail schemes left in Scotland and this adjustment will help ensure its longer-term future. Without this change, the removal of peak fares on train journeys would see an additional annual cost to the SCTS of approximately £1 million under the existing reimbursement model.

Chair of the Joint Committee, Councillor Stephen Dornan said:

“The removal of the Anytime fare structure (peak fares) means we need to review the concession structure to ensure the scheme remains viable, and rail concession remains in the scheme. The additional costs arise from the increase in reimbursement to ScotRail which the scheme would be expected to meet.

“To maintain the SCTS, the only option in the time available to consider, is to adjust the discount offered on the lower, off-peak fares. The concession fare remains a reduced fare funded by the 12 west of Scotland local authorities.”

The change to one-third off all rail tickets brings the SCTS into line with other discounted rail tickets including the Over 60s Senior Railcard and the Disabled Persons Railcard. These cards also require an annual upfront payment of £35 and £25 which the SCTS does not.

As the SCTS is not designed to support commuting travel, current restrictions on when the discounted tickets can be used will still apply ie only available for use after 9:15am.

As the majority of rail concession tickets sold are on a return basis, the new return concession fares should remain similar to the previous fare which offered 50% off an Anytime Return and in some cases may result in a small reduction for passengers. For those purchasing single tickets, the new single concession fare would increase.

Example Journey 1                                                                 

Anytime Single               £4.50                                              

Anytime Return              £7.10 

Off peak Return              £4.70                                              

Current Concession Single Fare            £2.25                

Current Concession Return Fare           £3.55             

New Concession Single Fare                 £3.00               

New Concession Return Fare                £3.15        

Example Journey 2

Anytime Single               £10.10

Anytime Return              £16.90

Off peak Return               £10.70

Current Concession Single Fare             £5.05

Current Concession Return Fare            £8.45

New Concession Single Fare                  £6.70

New Concession Return Fare                 £7.15

This latest change is after a review of the SCTS earlier this year which saw the introduction of a 50% concession fare on the Anytime Return Standard Fare, capped for £2.50 for a single and £4 return in designated rural zones. The half fare structure is still applicable to Subway and Ferry services, and the rural fare cap between stations within designated rural zones also remains unaffected by the proposed changes.

The scheme and the re-imbursement arrangements with ScotRail will be reviewed following the introduction of off-peak fares and its impact on concession use.