Scotland rail ticketing system criticised
Ferry Online Travel News 20/04/2009
The rail network is "confusing" and "illogical" and undermines confidence in train travel.
Three years after the release of a scathing parliamentary report that accused rail operators of discouraging train travel with chaotic ticketing structures and exorbitant rates, The Herald has reported that the rail fares system in the country is still in need of a major overhaul.
According to the newspaper, their reporters travelled around Scotland for a week, uncovering numerous inconsistencies in ticketing practices and a confusing range of discounted single fares – which seemed to be based on a practice employed by the airlines to fill seats during off-peak periods.
For example, purchasing a series of single tickets to travel from suburban Glasgow to Edinburgh was £8 cheaper than buying a through ticket, and the cost of the fare from Edinburgh to Rutherglen in South Lanarkshire - requiring two trains – was much cheaper than the direct journey going from Waverley to Queen Street.
Robert Samson, at watchdog Passenger Focus, also indicated that the ticketing system and fare structure needed to be simplified, and urged a review of network practices.
Samson said that the recent study on fares and ticketing showed the need for simplifying the fare structure for long-distance travel: “The structure is still seen as complicated and not logical.”
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