JOHN Swinney has said scrapping peak rail fares could save commuters in Hamilton and Larkhall hundreds of pounds a year.
The First Minister said voters in the area, who are due to go to the polls on June 5 to elect a new MSP after the death of Christina McKelvie, could save around £900 a year from the policy decision.
Swinney announced peak rail fares will be scrapped in September during his Programme for Government in May, held early to mark a year out from the Holyrood 2026 election.
But with the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election looming, Swinney said the SNP was “putting money” in voters' pockets while Labour scrapped essential benefits like the Winter Fuel Payment.
The SNP said that the main destination station for passengers travelling to or from Hamilton Central is Glasgow Central. Currently, an anytime day return between Glasgow Central and Hamilton Central is £9.20 and an off-peak day return is £6.00.
Glasgow Central is also the main destination station for passengers travelling to or from Larkhall. An anytime day return from there is £11.20 and an off peak return is £7.70.
Following the SNP government’s decision to scrap peak rail fares for good from September, someone commuting five days every week from Hamilton Central to Glasgow Central will save over £760 a year from September. Someone with the same commute from Larkhall station will save £910, the party said.
“The SNP is taking action to cut costs and ease financial pressures amid the cost of living crisis,” Swinney said.
“Scrapping peak rail fares is a critical part of my Cost of Living Guarantee that will save commuters hundreds of pounds.
"Alongside SNP policies like free tuition, free prescriptions and the most generous childcare offer in the UK we are supporting people when they need it most and putting more money in people’s pockets.
“Labour meanwhile took away the Winter Fuel Payment from over 36,000 pensioners in South Lanarkshire, have allowed energy bills to rise by over £200 and cut £5 billion of support for disabled people.
“Unlike the Labour Party, the SNP is always on your side; taking action on what matters to people in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse and across Scotland.”
Katy Loudon, the SNP candidate for the by-election, said: “Too many households in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse have borne the brunt of the cost of living crisis, with the UK Labour government presiding over rampant inflation and soaring energy bills.
“In Scotland, the SNP is bringing costs down for people, with policies like free bus travel for 2.3 million people, bringing back the Winter Fuel Payment and scrapping peak rail fares.
“The Labour Party has lost its way, but this SNP government is delivering on what matters to you.
“Vote SNP on 5th June for a cheaper commute and to put your priorities first.”
It comes after Scottish Labour’s by-election candidate was accused of being unable to “string a handful of words together” after he refused to take part in an STV by-election date.
Labour also failed to disclose that candidate Davy Russell previously worked for a scandal-hit company, prompting questions about transparency.
He was previously a consultant to a subsidiary of Mears Group in North Lanarkshire.
Last year it was alleged that Mears Scotland LLP had falsified at least 13,000 maintenance records, after a whistleblower reported the firm to the local authority’s auditors.
