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11/01/2014

ScotRail Impose Above Inflation Fare Increases and No Appreciable Improvements in Broughty Ferry Timetable

Broughty Ferry Station
Earlier this month, ScotRail increased rail fares for commuters and those needing to travel at 'peak' times by 3.1 per cent, while off-peak tickets were frozen. 

This above inflation increase of 'peak' fares was not matched by any significant improvements to the number of trains stopping in Broughty Ferry on the new timetable that began on 9 December.

Having to pay higher rail fares was disappointing news for all rail passengers in Scotland. It was however particularly disappointing for those who have been put off or inconvenienced by the irregular train times and the long gaps between some services stopping at Broughty Ferry station. 

The current timetable certainly falls far short of the recommendations of the Tay Valley Rail Study. That report made the case for a regular hourly service connecting Broughty Ferry with Dundee, Perth and Glasgow in the west and stations to Aberdeen in the North.

I understand that any more service improvements depend on the Scottish Government specifying these in the new franchise for train services in Scotland which is to be awarded soon.

There was one rather obscure additional Monday - Friday service improvement. There is an additional very early morning train that runs north to Aberdeen calling at Broughty Ferry at 5:46 am. It is the only service of the day which runs through Aberdeen as far as Inverness without changing trains.

Link to the current ScotRail timetable for trains to and from Broughty Ferry Station effective from 9 December 2013