ScotRail to bring in off-peak tickets around the clock in six-month trial

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Peak fares are to be abolished for the winter by ScotRail, with the operator hoping to “encourage people to ditch the car and travel by train”. Alex Hynes, managing director of Scotland’s Railway, said: “This is a hugely exciting opportunity for Scotland’s Railway to encourage more people across the country to choose rail travel instead of using the car. “We know that cost and simplicity is a critical factor for people when they choose how to travel, and we are looking forward to delivering this fantastic fare reduction for our customers.” At present most ScotRail trains that leave at or before 9.15am on weekdays are classed as peak, with sharply higher fares. “We anticipate the trial will encourage more people to use ScotRail services, with cheaper fares early in the day attracting more people to consider travelling by rail.” To counter concerns of overcrowding on peak services, especially to, from and between Edinburgh and Glasgow, ScotRail said: “We will have every available carriage out on the network.