Price rise adds to rail misery

Commuters face higher fares

Scotland's beleagured rail passengers are to face an increase in the price of train tickets.

Train operator ScotRail has announced it will increase many rail fares by 2.3% from next month.

The company has blamed the high cost of diesel and inflation for the rise.

The price rises come after the disruption caused by the Hatfield rail crash and the severe weather problems in England.

A landslip at Polmont added to the problems

A landslip at Polmont, near Falkirk, in October forced services between Edinburgh and Glasgow to be reduced from four per hour to two.

The increases will be introduced on 7 January and affect season tickets, standard day returns and most single fares.

ScotRail confirmed that saver and super fares, so called "walk on" tickets that can be purchased on the train, and first class fares will not be subject to the increase.

Single fares from Glasgow to Edinburgh will also be exempt from the rise.

Meanwhile, most apex fares, which have to be booked two days in advance, and seats on the sleeper service will be reduced by as much as 25%.

Sleeper fares will remain unchanged.

Reduced service

A spokesman for ScotRail said that the increases were unavoidable.

He said: "The fare increases reflect a 50% rise in the price of diesel since January and current levels of inflation.

"However, by the time the increases are introduced we would expect that Glasgow to Edinburgh trains will be operating a full service at 15-minute intervals."

The spokesman added that, despite the increases, an off peak single fare from Glasgow to Edinburgh remains, at £7.50, at the same price as it was in 1995.

The changes will not apply to ScotRail fares within Strathclyde, which are controlled by Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT).

SPT announced last week that they would be raising fares by 4.5% in May 2001.