Rail fares reprieve

ScotRail have revealed that Transport Scotland have agreed to allow the now 7.53 am service from Annan to be put back to an ‘off-peak’ fare.
MSP Elaine Murray had lobbied for a change, and said: “This was an important issue for local people and I couldn’t hope for a better result in this situation.
“While the reversal date is yet to be confirmed by ScotRail, it’s clear that commuters in Dumfriesshire will soon no longer face the double-charge fare.”
After lobbying from Dr Murray and MP David Mundell, ScotRail said they would retain the new time but look to have the journey from Annan to Carlisle reclassified as ‘off-peak’, seeking permission for the move from Transport Scotland.
Bringing the service forward two minutes in December meant the leg of the journey from Annan to Carlisle was now classed as ‘peak’, and day return fares for that journey shot up by 108 per cent from £5.10 to £10.40.
Day return tickets from Dumfries to Carlisle on the service rose from £13 to £17.60 – an increase of 61 per cent.
And a cheaper ‘split-ticket’ option for Dumfries commuters, acknowledging the cheaper fares from Annan, was removed.
ScotRail say that, following discussions with Transport Scotland, they are ‘happy to reinstate an off-peak fare’ for the Annan to Carlisle stretch.
A spokesman said: “We are in the process of finalising the details of this arrangement and will confirm these in due course.”
ScotRail also say that customers can mix and match fares within the permitted rules – ‘splitting’ tickets if it suits them to do so.
Welcoming the outcome, Dr Murray said: “This is the third time that ScotRail have attempted to increase the fare for this service, and the third time they’ve failed to permanently implement it.
“Hopefully this will finally be the end of the matter.”