AN integrated system allowing Scots to use a single ticket across different modes of public transport will be in place before the next Holyrood election, Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn has pledged.
In an exclusive interview with The National as part of our series looking at the future of transport across Scotland, Flynn said he wanted integrated ticketing in place “as quickly as possible” and that progress on a “single ticket – tap on, tap off” system had been one of his early questions after taking on his new Cabinet position.
Transport Scotland says it aims to “increase the use of sustainable public transport by providing smart and integrated ticketing”, which would let passengers travel seamlessly across different modes of public transport using one payment method.
However, following a 2024 review, the agency said that “over the next 10 years” it would “focus on establishing the right foundations” for the system.
Flynn, who was appointed Transport Secretary after the Holyrood elections in May, has accelerated this timetable.
Asked about integrated ticketing, he told The National: “I want that to happen as quickly as possible. There is work that's been under way in relation to that.
“I would love to be in a position to accelerate that, and that's something which I'm going to be exploring – I've obviously spent the last six-and-a-half years in London where you can very much do that.”
The Transport Secretary went on: “I think there's been significant progress, but let's see how we get that into a position where it can be delivered as quickly as possible, because I think it's very important for a variety of reasons, not least the sustainability of our transport system across the board, and making sure that we can have affordability underpinning our rail network and our bus network as well.”
Asked if it would be in place before 2031, Flynn said: “You know what? Yes.
“I mean, there's literally a time frame in my mind, but I'm not going to tell you.”
Asked if his target time frame was before 2031, he repeated: “Yes, definitely.”
Then asked if it is before the next World Cup – which is due to be held in the summer of 2030 – Flynn joked: “I'll tell you what, if Scotland qualify, I'll tell you.”
The Transport Secretary’s pledge goes further than the SNP’s 2026 election manifesto, which said the party would “explore the best configuration of nationally publicly owned transport companies and services to support integration of services and efficiency of public investment”.
The Scottish Greens, however, pledged during their election campaign to introduce a single “Scotcard” ticketing system for buses, trains and ferries that would allow public transport users to “tap on, tap off”.
Patrick Harvie, the Scottish Green MSP and transport spokesperson, said: “This kind of integrated ticketing is normal across most European countries; Scotland is an outlier in that you need a different ticket for each mode of transport. The Scottish Greens have been calling for integrated ticketing for years, because it will make public transport easier to use, and cheaper.
“We know that it is possible in Scotland; during COP26 we saw integrated ticketing for attendees of the global climate conference, yet five years later and the SNP are still making only vague comments, saying there’s progress when in fact we’re years behind.
“I hope that these latest noises from the Government will finally lead to delivery.”
You will be able to read the full interview with Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn in The National on Thursday, August 6.
