Scots commuters have dismissed ScotRail’s new open return Glasgow to Edinburgh ticket as being ‘ridiculously expensive’.
Earlier this week, the rail firm announced details of the new fare which will allow passengers to use their return ticket within a month instead of on the same day.
It is the first time ScotRail has offered the service for travel between Scotland’s two largest cities.
But eyebrows have been raised over the price tag of the new ticket - which will cost £30 for travel at any point of the day or £18.40 on off-peak hours.
Many travellers accused the firm of making rail travel unaffordable for working class Scots.
Employees - aged 23 and over - who are paid the National Living Wage of £8.91 would have to work more than three hours to be able to pay for the ticket during peak times.
Flights to some of the most popular holiday destinations among Scots can be purchased for less than the new rail tickets.
Scots can book a return ticket from Edinburgh Airport to Ibiza for just over £17, when booked from Wednesday, September 9 to Wednesday, September 15.
Return tickets to Rome from Edinburgh for the same time can be booked for just £28.85 - which is cheaper than ScotRail’s peak-time open return fare.
These flights are available to purchase when flying out on specific dates and the price varies when selected and booked at other times.
One disgruntled ScotRail passenger wrote on Twitter : “Shame it is so expensive. Travelled a two hour journey in France for less than that.”
Another said: “£30 for an open return is ridiculously expensive. Hence the reason people with cars will always drive rather than get the train. I’d love to get the train but could never afford to.”
A third added: “This is obscene. Train travel is ridiculously expensive for weekday commuters just now. You need to lower these.”
In response to a Daily Record request for comment, ScotRail said that the point of the fare is “being missed”.
The firm said that the open return fare do not replace every day travel, such as commutes to work.
Scots are still able to purchase an anytime day single between both cities for £15.50 or £13.50 at off-peak times.
Anytime day returns can still be bought for £26.60, with off-peak day returns priced at £13.70.
A spokesperson for ScotRail said: “As well as offering savings, our new Open Return fares between Glasgow and Edinburgh provide customers with the freedom of being able to make their return journey any time within a month, without having to buy another ticket.
“We’re confident that these fares will help bring former customers back, and attract new ones, as we continue our work to ensure that Scotland’s Railway is fit for the future.”
