Peak time rail fares in Scotland to rise by 2.5% for 2015

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-28851247

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Peak time rail fares in Scotland are set to rise by 2.5% next year, ScotRail has announced.

The increase is based on the Retail Price Inflation (RPI) figure for July, at which level the Scottish government had said it would cap increases.

However, ScotRail says fares for off peak journeys - around four out of every 10 - will not increase.

Elsewhere in the UK, price rises will average 3.5% as they are determined by the RPI plus one percentage point.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said the announcement "shows that Scotland's rail passengers are getting a better deal when it comes to fares".

He said: "I have negotiated an agreement with ScotRail which means their peak fares will only increase by 2.5%, rather than up to 5.5% in England and Wales.

"I will continue to make sure Scotland's rail passengers get the best deal possible.

"The next ScotRail franchise will bear down further on the cost of fares, ensuring they will not rise above inflation. And it will be a condition of the next franchise that regulated off-peak fares will be restricted to 1% below inflation from 2016."