Highland Labour MSP sends out warning over rail travel prices after being alerted to issue in Nairn
A PROBE has been launched into whether ticket machines are over-charging rail travellers by directing them to more expensive fares.
Regional Labour MSP David Stewart wants answers from ScotRail after he was made aware of travellers from Nairn offered peak-time tickets on the main display despite travelling on the 9.17am off-peak service.
The machine only appears to recalibrate at 9.15am – two minutes before departure – at which point it displays the cheaper £6.50 off-peak return ticket while many have already shelled out £9 for a peak ticket.
Mr Stewart said: “This would appear to be a glitch and it must be catching people out, particularly those who are not used to using computerised touch screens.
“They may not know the ticket price showing on the machine’s main display screen is not in fact the cheapest ticket available to them.
“The bottom line is passengers should not have to go digging around the ticket machine to get the cheapest fare. It should be staring them in the face. I’m calling for answers from ScotRail and Transport Scotland because this situation, flagged up to me in Nairn, could be happening across Scotland.”
A ScotRail spokesman said: “Historic pricing regimes meant customers had to navigate their way through a fares database to find the best deal. We’re committed to tackling fare inconsistencies to ensure customers have easier access to best value rail fares.”
