Train fares to outstrip inflation with 4.9 per cent rise

RAIL fares will rise by 4.9 per cent in Strathclyde next month, First ScotRail has announced.

The rise from 18 May affects two-thirds of Scotland's rail passengers and follows a virtually identical rise across the rest of the country in January. It affects regulated tickets, such as standard singles and returns, and season tickets, but other fares will rise by a similar amount.

The increase amounts to 1 per cent above the retail price index last September, under an established formula in which passengers contribute more towards rail costs.

Fares rise separately in the west of Scotland from the rest of the country due to a historical anomaly from when they were controlled by the former Strathclyde Passenger Transport. Elsewhere, tickets went up by 4.8 per cent at the start of the year, based on an earlier RPI rate.

James King, of Passenger Focus, said travellers would want to know what they were going to get in return for the above-inflation rise.