Lorna Slater MSP, the local Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, has hailed the cheaper greener rail fares pilot that will see peak rail fares scrapped across Scotland from 2nd October.
The pilot, which will last for at least six months, will provide huge financial relief to people commuting to and from Edinburgh at peak hours, and will protect the planet by encouraging more people to take the train rather than drive.
Route Current peak fare New peak fare
Edinburgh to Glasgow £28.90 £14.90
Edinburgh to Dundee £41.40 £32.20
Edinburgh to North Berwick £4.90 £3.80
Lorna Slater, the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, said: “I’m delighted that with Scottish Greens in government we are introducing this trial, ending the two-tier pricing system and helping thousands of people across Lothian to cut costs while leaving the car at home.
“Every pound saved on a commute is money that can instead go towards heating, eating, and other expenses this winter.
“It’s a game-changing opportunity to transform habits, cut congestion, save money, and make our communities safer, cleaner and greener places to live and work.
“We’ve already seen how free bus travel for everyone under 22 has boosted bus use since we launched it last year, with tens of thousands of journeys being taken across Scotland every day.
“By helping people come back to public transport, and making our streets safer to walk, wheel and cycle, we are beginning to see the kind of positive, transformational change that Scottish Greens joined the government to deliver. Change that will help people, communities like the Lothians, and our planet.”
UK government to review and remove train announcements that add unnecessary noise and disruption to journeys
the Department for Transport will ensure train operating companies retain important safety messages and work with accessibility groups so that passengers receive the necessary information
announcement follows the publication of the government’s Plan for Rail, which puts passengers back at the heart of the railways
Quieter train journeys are set to become the norm after the government announced it will identify and remove repetitive and unnecessary onboard announcements on trains in England.
The changes mean that passengers will no longer be bombarded with unnecessary ‘tannoy spam’ that distracts from important safety-critical messaging.
Working closely with the Rail Delivery Group, passenger groups including Transport Focus, and train operators, the Department for Transport (DfT) will identify how the vast number of announcements can be cut or reduced while maintaining vital obligations to ensure train travel remains accessible for all. Messages that play a safety critical role, or that ensure the railways are accessible for all, will remain.
The review will take place over the course of this year, with redundant messages identified and starting to be removed in the coming months.
Banal announcements set to be culled include self-evident instructions, such as having your ticket ready when leaving the station and contradictory calls for passengers to keep volume levels low while onboard announcements blare out. There will also be new curbs on the maximum frequency at which remaining announcements will be heard.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Train passengers are all too often plagued by an endless torrent of repeated and unnecessary announcements.
“In line with the passenger improvements, we are rolling out with our Plan for Rail we want to see improvements to the railways for those who use them day in day out.
“That’s why I’m calling for a bonfire of the banalities to bring down the number of announcements passengers are forced to sit through and make their journey that little bit more peaceful.”
As passengers come back to the railways, DfT will continue to ensure journeys are more comfortable to all users and that passengers continue to receive the important information they need about their journey.
Officials will work with accessibility groups to ensure that access for all is maintained.
The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, launched last year, ‘puts passengers at the heart of the railway’. To improve the comfort and enjoyment of train travel, customer service will be modernised and upgraded across all stations and, on trains, focused on providing passengers with better communication and a more personalised service.
Anthony Smith, Chief Executive of the independent watchdog Transport Focus, said: “Passengers will welcome a review intended to cut out unnecessary announcements.
“Transport Focus looks forward to helping with the review so passengers get the information they want, including those with additional accessibility needs.
Jacqueline Starr, CEO of the Rail Delivery Group, said: “We know people want the most relevant and timely messages on their journeys and to help with this, train operators are continuing their work to improve customer information, including cutting unnecessary onboard announcements.
“We’re also going further by asking customers what they want to know and using their responses to plan more useful and consistent announcements across the network, helping people have a better experience travelling by train.”
Communities in East Lothian, the Scottish Borders and Northumberland have today been connected via rail for the first time in almost decades thanks to new services operated by TransPennine Express (TPE).
The train company has launched five services per day (Monday to Saturday) in both directions, calling at Edinburgh Waverley, Dunbar, Reston (once opened), Berwick-upon-Tweed, Alnmouth, Morpeth, and Newcastle, with one service per day calling at Cramlington.
The introduction of the new services means that for the first time in decades, communities in Morpeth, Alnmouth, Berwick and Dunbar now have a rail link, providing new journey opportunities for residents between towns in the regions and into Edinburgh and Newcastle.
Matthew Golton, Managing Director for TransPennine Express said: “We are thrilled that, as of today, communities across East Lothian, the Scottish Borders and Northumberland are connected once again, and we are looking forward to welcoming customers onboard.
“Working with Transport Scotland and Rail North Partnership we’re delighted that these additional services will now significantly improve connectivity on this route, providing communities with enhanced access to work, education and leisure opportunities.”
Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: “Our railways are vital in connecting communities and empowering our towns and cities to flourish, which is why we have announced our historic £96bn Integrated Rail Plan to help level up the North and Midlands.
“It’s fantastic that Transport Scotland and the Rail North Partnership have come together with TransPennine Express to launch these new services, which will bring people together, drive growth, and provide an important link between two of the UK’s greatest cities.”
Transport Minister Graeme Deysaid: “This is very good news for the local communities along the route and a great example of collaborative working.
“Improving access to work, education and leisure opportunities by connecting communities is at the heart of our transport priorities. These additional rail services, particularly at intermediate stations, will also make a real difference in encouraging more people out of their cars and onto trains as we strive towards achieving our Net Zero goals.”
Cllr Martin Gannon, Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee,said: “I’m pleased to welcome this new TransPennine Express service which will help to improve connectivity for local people – particularly for communities in Northumberland.
“Better access to employment, education and leisure is a key objective of our regional Transport Plan, so I’m delighted to see this additional service begin.”
The new services will be operated by TPE’s modern, five carriage Nova 1 trains featuring spacious interiors, plenty of leg room, free Wi-Fi in both Standard and First Class as well as access to onboard entertainment system, Exstream.
Customers can travel with confidence onboard TPE’s services with enhanced cleaning in place to keep everyone safe. Face coverings must be worn on trains and at stations (unless exempt).
For those looking to travel, tickets can be purchased online via our website or using the TPExpress App where people can pay using Apple Pay, Google Pay or PayPal.
E-tickets are also available allowing customers to use their phone instead of a paper ticket.
Virgin Red will match points earned on train travel and donate them to its 13 charity partners
Virgin Red will match all Virgin Points earned with Virgin Trains Ticketing in December and donate them to its 13 charity partners
Hundreds of thousands of Virgin Points are expected to be earned by Virgin Red’s members as the nation reconnects with loved ones this Christmas
Virgin Red members receive three points for every £1 spent on train travel with Virgin Trains Ticketing – meaning they can reward themselves with a Christmas treat too.
As the nation prepares to reunite with family and friends this December after last year’s festivities were cancelled, Virgin Red predicts a bumper month of train travel this December.
Members of Virgin Red, Virgin’s rewards programme, can earn up to three Virgin Points for every £1 spent on train tickets with Virgin Trains Ticketing – and this December, Virgin Red will match all points earned on train tickets and gift them to its 13 partner charities as a cash donation. With Virgin Trains Ticketing, travellers won’t see any booking fees on e-tickets either.
With UK train journeys costing between 5.5p to 34p a mile* Virgin Red is giving travellers an extra reward for heading home and reconnecting with friends and family by delivering much-needed support for charities across the country, many of whom have seen donations dip post pandemic.
Andrea Burchett, International and Strategic Development Director, says: “Travelling by train this Christmas really is rewarding with Virgin Red – not only will members receive points which they could use for a little Christmas treat for themselves, they’re also helping those less fortunate as Virgin Red matches and donates the Virgin Points earned from train tickets to its 13 charity partners.
“If it wasn’t enough reason to reconnect with our friends and family, earning points for every ticket bought and seeing those points matched and donated to charity, really means there has never been a better time to travel by train. And remember, with Virgin Trains Ticketing, there are no booking fees!”
Virgin Red rewards come in all shapes and sizes, from the small things that make the everyday better, to awesome extraordinary experiences, and it’s super easy to earn points, too with members earning Virgin Points just for doing their shopping online via Virgin Red.
It’s also really easy to boost your Virgin Points balance to enjoy rewards with Virgin Trains Ticketing. For example, as of 30 November 2021:
An off-peak return from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly over a weekend (£94.50) will accrue 284 Virgin Points.
An off-peak return from London Victoria to Brighton over a weekend (£39.60) will secure 119 Virgin Points.
An off-peak return from Manchester Piccadilly to Edinburgh Waverley over a weekend (£86.90) will collect 261 Virgin Points.
With annual passenger numbers expected to double to over 49million by 2048, rail passengers, customers and the public are being asked their views about the long term future of Edinburgh’s Waverley Station.Continue reading Have your say on the future of Waverley Station
A pop-up exhibition by National Rail, called No Boundaries, which showcases the work of artists living with disabilities arrived at Edinburgh Waverly station yesterday.Continue reading No Boundaries arrives in Edinburgh
