Suzy, Drinker Of Coffee

First ScotRail puts fares up and down

I shall let you read this press release from First ScotRail. No matter how they say it, it’s a fare rise. The Dundee – Glasgow and Dundee – Aberdeen apex options were removed near the end of the NatEx ScotRail franchise.

Firstly, this may be unavoidable, but it comes in the middle of a huge rail replacement operation, whilst Network Rail takes up most of the tracks arund Perth, and buses replace trains between Stirling and Dundee.

Secondly, if you are going for the day to Glasgow, it is cheaper to buy two tickets than one! Assuming you can avoid getting there before 0930 on weekdays, and don’t come home during the evening peak, then you will be cheaper to buy a Cheap Day Return from Dundee to Perth, and another from Perth to Glasgow. Why? Partly because the Cheap Day Returns are based on a different fare structure, but there is no Cheap Day Return from Dundee to Glasgow.

Current fares for walk-up travel

Dundee – Perth Cheap Day Return £5.80
Perth – Glasgow Cheap Day Return £10.90 according to National Rail Enquiries website, or £11.90 according to First ScotRail

This makes £16.70 or £17.70 – which is still a lot less than a SuperSaver (not Fridays or Summer Saturdays) at £23.20, or a Saver at £32.70. These two tickets have no evening peak restrictions, but cannot be used before 0915.

One other travel offer – if you can travel off-peak on selected trains on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays, the little-advertised Midweek Mover which is £12.00 – yes, that’s return, despite being less than the price of a single £23.10 upwards.

Right, now which ticket did you want again?

posted by Suzy Scott @ 15:20