First ScotRail will introduce the second stage of its overhaul of long distance fares aimed at simplifying the ticket structure, promoting off peak travel and easing crowding on busy routes, on September 10 2006.

The overhaul includes a further expansion of Value Advance tickets which will offer an average 18 per cent reduction on the current cheapest fare. Value Advance will be available on reservable routes*, with purchases allowed up to 18.00 the day before travel - a significant improvement on the current two-day booking requirement with the current Apex ticket it will replace.

The overall aim of the changes is to simplify the long distance fares structure and benefit customers by better managing supply and demand and easing crowding on the busiest trains at a time when more and more people are being attracted onto trains.

The new Standard Open Return for walk-up travel before 09.15 Monday to Friday will be priced at a maximum of 10 per cent above the current off-peak Saver fare. Regular commuters will not be affected. Season tickets and 10-journey Flexipasses will remain at current levels.

In the first phase in June, the changes were introduced on routes including Edinburgh-Dundee, Dundee-Glasgow, Perth-Glasgow and Dundee-Aberdeen.

There has been six per cent growth year on year in journeys within the Edinburgh-Aberdeen and Glasgow-Aberdeen services since June 11.

Under the second phase, these changes will be extended to key Inter Urban and South West routes. Peter Williams, First ScotRail’s commercial director, said: “We have a responsibility to manage our existing capacity, and want to offer better value discounted tickets that will not affect passenger comfort at the busiest times. By introducing a morning restriction, we can encourage passengers whose travel plans are flexible to move to less busy trains and so help ease congestion on the busiest trains. It is an approach widely used by other rail and transport providers. Results from areas where the new structure was introduced are encouraging. The take up of the new fares continues to grow, with flexible customers taking advantage of our new, discounted Value Advance tickets and also easing crowding on trains. That growth speaks volumes for our value-for-money strategy – at a time when the price of diesel is soaring, and our electricity charges rose by 25 per cent in the past year and are expected to double in the next two years. There will be no further fare increases this year and hence the average fare increase since September last year, a period of 15 months, will be 4.5 per cent.”

Fares examples
Glasgow-Aberdeen - Standard Single £34.90 (unaltered), Standard Open Return £57.50 (increase of 9.9%), Saver £43.00 (reduction of 17.8%), SuperSaver £38.40 (unaltered), Value Advance Return £19.50 or £37.90 (subject to availability)
Edinburgh-Aberdeen - Standard Single £34.90 (unaltered), Standard Open Return £57.50 (increase of 9.9%), Saver £42.00 (reduction of 19.7%), SuperSaver £38.40 (unaltered), Value Advance Return £19.50 or £34.50 (subject to availability)
Inverness-Glasgow or Edinburgh - Standard Single £34.90 (unaltered), Standard Open Return £47.40 (increase of 9.9%), Saver £43.10 (unaltered), Supersaver £43.10 (unaltered), Value Advance Return £19.50 or £31.30 (subject to availability)
Glasgow-Dumfries - Standard Single £11.10 (unaltered), Standard Open Return £22.00 (increase of 5.8%), Saver £15.20 (reduction of 26.9%), Cheap Day Return £13.10 (increase of 10%)