Glasgow residents have blasted a ‘ridiculous’ increase in travel fares across the city as a new pricing system SPT travel cards is introduced.
The SPT ZoneCards will rise in price by the end of the month as a new smart system is introduced. They currently cover seven regions with people as far as Cumnock and West Kilbride benefiting from them.
However, the cost for the tickets will increase on June 24. Glasgow Live spoke to affected residents about their views on the existing costs of services such as trains, buses and the subway, as well as their thoughts on the price increase individuals with an SPT card could face.
Elizabeth is a 67-year-old from Johnstone and uses the train to travel into the city centre at least once a week. She told us, “I haven’t felt a change as I have my Saltire card, which I am very grateful for. However, I know that isn’t the case for everyone.”
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She added that she had spoken to her nieces and nephews about it who generally seem to think pricing is “fine” most of the time. When we went on to tell her more about the SPT card 130% price increase she thought it was “ridiculous”.
Jane who is a 51-year-old from Glasgow, also agreed that the increases for SPT card users was wrong and she is “worried” about more increases. She currently commutes into Glasgow a few days of the week for work and has noticed the price of her bus increasing.
She said she needs to use the bus to get to and from work, but she currently does not use an SPT card, she just pays daily.
Mum and daughter, Katie, 51, and Lucy, 16, were out for the day enjoying a trip in the city centre. The mother daughter duo from Rutherglen told us that they usually get the train into the city as it is cheaper than parking.
Lucy said: “As a young person I feel I have noticed the prices going up”.
They both added that they felt the subway prices were “quite dear”. When discussing the SPT Card increase they were both shocked.
Katie said: “I think this is awful news for people that have to commute every day.”
Ameira and Jenna are two 17-year-olds who are excited to be starting university in September, however they told us they are “worried” about when they start and how they will be able to afford to commute in for their classes.
Ameira told us she uses public transport “quite a lot” but using her Young Scot card makes a “big difference”. The two East Kilbride best friends told me they are fearing the cost of everything is “getting worse”. Jenna added that for young people it is “ridiculous” that SPT ticket fares are increasing, and that young people will feel stressed about this.
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Another young local we spoke to 21-year-od Jaclynn is in a similar position. The university student told us it was “too expensive” for her to get the train in to university before ScotRail introduced the off-peak pricing for all services.
She added that despite the off-peak pricing meaning she is able to travel to university she still thinks it is still “too expensive”. She followed that, when off peak pricing goes back to how it was, she worries how she will be able to afford the commute, especially with the increase in SPT pricing.