Scot Rail

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blackrat

Senior Member
Train travel, a symptom of our times:
This today:
Hello,
We’re writing to let you know about an upcoming change to rules for travelling on ScotRail services.

We’re introducing a new £10 minimum fare for journeys where a ticket hasn’t been purchased before boarding, but could have been. The minimum fare is intended to provide a clear and consistent approach for all customers and help reduce anti-social behaviour on the railway, which is often caused by a small minority travelling without a ticket.

We’ve now begun an education period to give customers time to become familiar with the change. From 1 July 2026, the £10 minimum fare will be put in place.

There are some exclusions where the minimum fare will not apply, including:
  • If your station has no ticket office, or it is closed and there is no ticket vending machine (TVM)
  • If you hold a National Entitlement Card
  • If accessibility requirements mean you cannot access the ticket office or use a TVM

Customers who can only pay in cash and can’t access a ticket office must obtain a ‘promise to pay’ ticket from a TVM and then purchase a ticket from on-train staff.​
 

Dogtrousers

Lefty tighty. Get it righty.
"We’re introducing a new £10 minimum fare for journeys where a ticket hasn’t been purchased before boarding, but could have been."

Isn't that just called fare dodging?

Revenue Protection in London will hit you with a £100 penalty fare plus the cost of the ticket that you dodged paying for. If they are feeling generous. If they aren't then it's off to court with you. https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/penalty-fares-and-how-to-pay-them

I had to pay a penalty fare once, ages ago (before it went up to £100). I had a monthly travelcard (paper ticket - ye olde days) that had expired and I hadn't noticed. Fair cop. I think it was only £20 or something like that.
 
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blackrat

Senior Member
"We’re introducing a new £10 minimum fare for journeys where a ticket hasn’t been purchased before boarding, but could have been."

Isn't that just called fare dodging?

Revenue Protection in London will hit you with a £100 penalty fare plus the cost of the ticket that you dodged paying for. If they are feeling generous. If they aren't then it's off to court with you. https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/penalty-fares-and-how-to-pay-them

The specifics of the need for the introduction was this:
"..help reduce anti-social behaviour on the railway, which is often caused by a small minority travelling without a ticket."
 

Dogtrousers

Lefty tighty. Get it righty.
The specifics of the need for the introduction was this:
"..help reduce anti-social behaviour on the railway, which is often caused by a small minority travelling without a ticket."

I think they're just a bit slow on the uptake protecting their revenue streams.
 

Brandane

Miles cannot be done unless moving!
Location
Ayrshire.
Sounds fair enough to me, as a regular user of Scotrail trains. Especially since I am exempt, being the holder of a National Entitlement Card (aka, a bus pass).
 

Pat "5mph"

A kilogrammicaly challenged woman
Moderator
Location
Glasgow
Sounds fair enough to me, as a regular user of Scotrail trains. Especially since I am exempt, being the holder of a National Entitlement Card (aka, a bus pass).
I don't use trains, well, I haven't for ages, since before I got my NEC.
My friend who does use the trains says she only gets a discount with her NEC, not a full free fare?
In Scotland, say Glasgow to Millport, because I'm aware she uses the train sometimes for this journey.
 
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