Scotland’s national rail operator ScotRail has enacted a major fare reform by permanently abolishing peak-time train fares. As of 1 September 2025, passengers pay a flat fare regardless of when they travel, ending the long-standing practice of charging more during rush hours.
The change, announced by the Scottish Government earlier this year, is intended to simplify ticket pricing under ScotRail’s public ownership and deliver better value for money to riders.
It also marks a first-of-its-kind move in the UK rail industry, with ScotRail becoming the first train operator in Britain to permanently scrap peak pricing.
Cheaper Fares and Key Route Savings
By ditching peak pricing, ScotRail has slashed ticket costs on many routes, and in some cases nearly halving the fare that commuters used to pay at rush hour.
From now on, the price is the same all day, with no peak surcharges. Previously, “peak” fares applied to weekday trains in the morning (before 9:15am) and late afternoon (roughly 4:45–6:30pm), forcing travelers to pay a premium during those busy periods.
Removing that premium translates to immediate savings for passengers across Scotland, especially on popular routes:
- Edinburgh – Glasgow: now £16.80 return (down from about £32.60 at peak, a 48% drop).
- Inverkeithing – Edinburgh: now £7.40 return (a 41% fare reduction).
- Inverness – Elgin: now £16.30 return (about 34% cheaper than previous peak price).
Many other routes see similar 20–40% price cuts. For example, Glasgow-Stirling tickets are 40% cheaper, while a few services that already had a single all-day fare will simply remain unchanged.
Importantly, this reform simplifies the ticketing structure. ScotRail’s Anytime tickets (previously the “peak” option) have now been permanently reduced to former off-peak prices, and time-restricted Off-Peak tickets are being phased out. In effect, every ticket is now an “anytime” ticket at the old off-peak rate.
For example, an Edinburgh–Glasgow return that was £32.60 at peak is now £16.80 no matter when you travel. ScotRail is even withdrawing special super-discount fares like its “Super Off-Peak Day Return,” since low fares are available all day under the new scheme.
Regular commuters are still protected by season tickets and flexipass options. These will be recalibrated to ensure they remain a good deal (season pass holders keep roughly a 40% advantage over buying daily tickets).
Railcard discounts and concessions continue as before (most valid after 9:15am), so passengers can stack those savings on top of the newly reduced base fares.
Why It Matters
Fare Equity and Cost-of-Living Relief
Scrapping peak fares is being lauded as a win for fare equity – benefiting those commuters and travelers who have no choice but to ride at busy times.
Peak-hour rail charges were often seen as penalizing workers and students for their schedules. “Peak rail fares have always been a deeply unfair tax on people who have no say over when they need to travel,” said Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell, praising the policy that has “finally rid” travelers of that burden.
With rush-hour return tickets now up to 50% cheaper on ScotRail, daily commuters stand to save hundreds of pounds per year – a meaningful relief amid the current cost-of-living pressures.
People in Scotland traveling from Edinburgh to Glasgow on a daily basis will see their travel costs fall by almost 50%. That’s a massive saving when people are struggling financially, noted John Swinney, speaking about the change at its launch.
The public ownership of ScotRail (in effect since 2022) arguably made this reform possible, as the government can prioritize social value over maximizing fare revenue. Indeed, officials characterized the £40 million per year cost of abolishing peak fares as an “investment in the people of Scotland” – one they deem financially sustainable with effective public budgeting.
The Scottish Government’s recent Fair Fares Review identified affordability as key to a fair, inclusive public transport system, laying the groundwork for this move.
Encouraging Greener, Car-Free Travel
The fare overhaul is also a bold climate-friendly transit initiative. By making train travel cheaper and simpler, Scottish ministers hope more people will leave their cars at home and take the train, cutting road congestion and carbon emissions.
The change was explicitly linked to Scotland’s efforts to meet its net-zero climate targets for transport. “By removing peak fares, we are…supporting a shift towards sustainable public transport, protecting the climate, and saving people money,” explained Fiona Hyslop, Scotland’s Transport Secretary.
Early indications are promising: ScotRail enjoyed a surge of riders over summer 2025, carrying over 200,000 event-goers to festivals, concerts, and sporting events, thanks in part to attractive fares. Now, with off-peak prices available at all hours, the railway hopes to capture even more would-be drivers.
ScotRail Managing Director Joanne Maguire called the change “fantastic news” for anyone considering rail travel, noting that trains are already one of the most convenient ways to get around Scotland – and now simpler, more affordable fares remove another barrier.
A Potential Precedent for the UK
This policy is being watched as a potential blueprint for public transport reform beyond Scotland. It’s the first time any UK rail operator has adopted a flat-fare structure with peak fare abolishment – a “historic moment” for Britain’s railways, as Scotland’s First Minister described it.
The success (or challenges) of ScotRail’s experiment could inform debates in the rest of the UK about how to make train travel more accessible. Passenger groups and unions across Britain are already highlighting the Scottish example: The permanent scrapping of peak fares is a victory for rail passengers, the environment, our wider economy and the future of Scotland’s rail industry, said Kevin Lindsay of the ASLEF train drivers’ union, adding that it ends “the de-facto extra tax on workers” who commute at peak times.
By proving that flat fares can boost ridership and public satisfaction (ScotRail’s customer satisfaction is currently 91%, the highest among large UK operators ), Scotland’s approach may spur calls for fairer fare policies elsewhere.
While no other region has yet followed suit, ScotRail’s bold move has undoubtedly set a new benchmark in the conversation over transit affordability and climate-conscious policy in the UK.