Each year, fare evasion costs Scotland’s Railway over £11 million, and ScotRail is bringing in a new minimum fare to reduce this.

Passengers who board a train without a ticket will be charged a £10 minimum fare, with this fare costing more than shorter journeys, e.g. the £3 ticket from Bishopbriggs to Glasgow Queen Street.

Where the ticket costs more than £10, no additional charge will be made for the journey, as this is the standard charge which will be implemented for those who purposely board without a ticket.

Data gathered has shown that those who purposefully boarded with a ticket had an open ticket office (74%) or a ticket machine (90%) but still chose not to purchase a ticket.

While this is being implemented, there are some exclusions, including ticket office closure, those with a national entitlement card, stations without a ticket machine or office, and those with disabilities which prevent the use of ticket machines.

Those who are paying with cash can still obtain a promise to pay ticket from a ticket machine before boarding, and staff will issue the minimum fare depending on the circumstances.

The fare will be put in place from the 1st April until July 2026 as a trial to target these smaller journey fare evasions.

“The introduction of a minimum fare will target the small number of customers who don’t buy a ticket before they travel, ensuring fairness for honest, fare-paying ScotRail passengers.

“Every pound lost through fraudulent travel is money that would have been reinvested into the railway, and we will take robust action to deal with those purposely avoiding payment. With more staff in place across the network, increased checks at stations, and the use of enhanced data analysis, we are reducing instances of ticket fraud year-on-year.

“Everyone across Scotland’s Railway will continue to work hard to ensure that everyone who uses our services pays their fair share.”

Phil Campbell, ScotRail Customer Operations Director