Current status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 November 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the ScotRail peak fares removal pilot ending, what measures it is taking to ensure that ScotRail remains an affordable transport option for students, and what consideration has been given to implementing a student discount on rail fares to support accessible and sustainable travel for young people.
The Young Scot National Entitlement Card (NEC), funded by the Scottish Government, offers young people concessionary travel on ScotRail services. This includes a third off most rail fares and 50% off weekly and monthly season tickets. There are no time restrictions on travel when using a Young Scot NEC to purchase a weekly or monthly season ticket.
We are also providing over £350m of support through our National Concessionary Travel Schemes (NCTS), allowing free bus travel for young people under 22. With over 3 million journeys every week, these schemes are helping people all across Scotland, including young people, to cut costs for essential, every day and leisure travel, making sustainable travel a more attractive option which will support our net zero ambitions.