Seats 'empty'
Call for ScotRail to abolish first class tickets
ScotRail has been urged to scrap first-class tickets during peak travel time to help with overcrowding after it was revealed only 2% of them are being used.
Travellers bought just 39,000 of the two million first-class tickets made available by the operator between April 2023 and April 2024.
Further data released under Freedom of Information showed in 2021/22, only 1% of first class rail seats were used across all lines in Scotland where they are available, with 1.73% in 2022/23.
Mark Ruskell, Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, said passengers were regularly forced to stand while first class seats emained empty.
The Scottish Greens want the immediate declassification of first class carriages until such time as they can be replaced by standard class seating.
“Our railways should be for all of us. Every journey on a ScotRail service should be a first-class experience — it shouldn’t be determined by your ability to pay extra,” he said.
“We’ve all been in a situation where we struggle to find seats or are forced to stand in cramped carriages, only for first-class to be almost completely empty. That’s such a waste. It’s not good for anyone.
“Rail companies across the UK are reducing first-class services. It is time for ScotRail to do the same,” he said, pointing to action by London Northwestern Railway, Southeastern and Greater Anglia to phase them out.
“By removing so-called first-class carriages we can increase capacity while building a fairer, better and more inclusive rail network that works for passengers, staff and the planet,” he said.
ScotRail said first-class tickets generate about £8 million each year for the state-owned company.
Claire Dickie, ScotRail’s commercial director, said: “ScotRail offers first class on board selected services connecting Scotland’s cities, and the revenue generated from this service is reinvested to deliver wider benefits for all customers.”
It comes after the controversial decision to end a year-long pilot scrapping peak fares. Scotrail fares increased by 8.7% this year while the temporary off-peak scheme was in place. In England fares went up by 4.9%.
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Why would anyone pay for First Class? Unlike in England, there is no trolley service and there are no free newspapers. Scotrail under the SNP is a total failure. Who would have guessed? It’s what happens when 5th Year common room politicians are tasked with making business decsions.