Local Labour MSP Colin Smyth has hit out at the rip-off rail fare rise that will hit passengers across Ayrshire.

Regulated rail fares increase in line with the retail price index. As a result, a season ticket fare on the Ayr to Glasgow line will cost £2530, an increase of £78. A season ticket on the Kilmarnock to Glasgow route will cost £1746, an increase of £54.

Colin Smyth MSP thinks it is simply unfair that passengers across Ayrshire are burdened with these rip-off rail fares.

Colin Smyth said, “These rail fare rises are unwanted, unwelcome and unnecessary. It is simply unfair that commuters in Ayrshire are being burdened with these rip-off rail fares for less than satisfactory services.

The cost of rail fares being paid by passengers is simply unacceptable with passengers from Ayr having to fork out £2530 a year to travel to and from work and passengers from Kilmarnock having to fork out £1746 a year to travel to and from work.”

Scottish Labour is clear. It’s high time working people stopped having to pay such excessive fares to simply line the pockets of private companies. Only Labour is fighting for a publicly owned railway which will serve the many, not just the few.”