By Lucy Ashton
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today unveiled plans to make public transport more affordable and accessible to young people, including calling on ministers to overhaul fares after they take on the running of Scotrail in two weeks’ time.
In this first part of a series of proposals to deliver New Hope for Young People, Mr Cole-Hamilton, pictured right, is calling for:
- All peak rail fares to be scrapped for young people
- The railcard discount to be increased to 50% for everyone under 30
- The reversal of the SNP/Green rail fares hike
- Inter-island ferry travel to be added to the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme
- New mechanisms to give young people a voice on transport companies’ boards so that their needs are always at the heart of decision-making.
Mr Cole-Hamilton said: “It is time for a radical shakeup of Scotland’s public transport system to make it climate-friendly and respond to the cost-of-living crisis.
“Young people getting to college or to work don’t have any choice but to travel at the start of the day. It’s not fair that they should pay the peak premium. For an apprentice that can consume as much as a fifth of your wage.
“The last thing young people needed was the SNP/Green rail fares hike. It’s why I think the whole transport system needs to be re-engineered for young people, with young people. It can be done if transport bosses give them a proper voice in decision-making and listen to their perspectives.
“It’s time young people got a fair deal. Scottish Liberal Democrats are in their corner.”
Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Young People Jack Norquoy added: “Affordable and accessible public transport is key enabler for young people’s prosperity and wellbeing.
“We know where public transport works just about everything else falls into place, bringing new opportunities, good jobs and stronger public services. This is particularly critical in island and rural communities where getting from A to B can be longer, more costly and often involve ferries rather than buses.
“The Scottish Government’s decision to not include inter-island ferries as part of the young persons’ free bus travel scheme is entirely wrong and ill-sighted.
“Scottish Liberal Democrats will offer a public transport system that works for all communities, for all ages, and for the climate.”
Meanwhile, apprentices are currently entitled (pre 1 April 2022) to the apprentice rate of £4.30 if they are aged under 19 or in the first year of their apprenticeship. They would earn £161.25 for a 37.5-hour week. To make it to Glasgow City Centre, apprentices from the following areas currently pay the following amounts for their weekly rail travel:
| Station (to Glasgow City Centre) | Current cost per week of five return journeys. | % of weekly earnings | Cost per week with 50% railcard, abolishing peak fares | % of weekly earnings |
| Cathcart | £21.50 | 13.3% | £10.75 | 6.7% |
| Bearsden | £18.50 | 11.5% | £9.25 | 5.7% |
| Bishopbriggs | £22 | 13.6% | £11 | 6.6% |
| Lenzie | £30 | 18.6% | £15 | 9.3% |
| Clarkston | £30 | 18.6% | £15 | 9.3% |
| Greenock Central | £59 | 36.6% | £29.5 | 18.3% |
| Croy | £40.50 | 25.1% | £20.25 | 12.6% |
| Bishopton | £40.50 | 25.1% | £20.25 | 12.6% |
| Paisley | £31.50 | 19.5% | £15.75 | 9.8% |
| Cambuslang | £25 | 15.5% | £12.50 | 7.8% |
| Hamilton Central | £39 | 24.2% | £19.50 | 12.1% |
| Milngavie | £31.00 | 19.2% | £15.50 | 9.6% |
The average age of a selection of boards making decisions about public transport for young people is as follows:
| Transport organisation | Average age of board members | Youngest board member |
| CalMac | 62 | 52 |
| Serco (operator of NorthLink Ferries) | 60 | 52 |
| Lothian Buses | 57 | 42 |
| ScotRail Trains Ltd | 55 | 42 |
| Abellio ScotRail Ltd | 53 | 42 |
The concept of free public transport travel for the young and the elderly is an idea that should be implemented in full. Providing much needed financial support to these either ends of the community is one thing. Good for health, good for well, good for well being, expands the economy – what not to like.
And let us be absolutely clear without the free travel for senior citizens and where the bus companies receive a portion of the fare towards running costs, it is absolutely crystal clear that essential all day bus services would not be viable without the subsidy. Yes, giving senior citizens is a way of distributing bus subsidy, And if more people take up bus travel, the percentage ticket price subsidy drops. Its a great idea.
Moving further on, if people could be encouraged to use good public transport as opposed to congestive personal car transport, the environment would improve. The purpose of transport is accessibility, but car congestion our so called personal mobility all to often obliterates accessibility. They call this the traffic jam.