Latest news with #JoanneMaguire
Glasgow Times
11-08-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow commuters to benefit as ScotRail ends peak fares
This decision, announced by the Scottish Government in May, aims to simplify pricing, enhance flexibility, and give rail users better value for money. The initiative also seeks to encourage more people to opt for train travel over car usage. Without peak fares, some journeys will see reductions of almost 50%. Read more: Go-karting event coming to Clydebank this weekend - here's how to take part This includes the popular route between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Starting September 1, passengers will pay the same fare irrespective of the time or day of their journey. The Edinburgh to Glasgow return fare will be £16.80, while the Glasgow to Stirling return fare will be £10.80. Certain routes where only off-peak fares exist will remain unchanged. Passengers can check the ScotRail website or app for fare details and savings. The website and app will be updated with the new pricing structure by August 22. Season tickets will retain their current pricing until September 27, representing a saving of at least 40% compared to purchasing five Anytime Day Return tickets at pre-September 1 prices. The discount was part of a 12-month offer launched in September 2024. Flexipass tickets will be adjusted from September 1 to ensure they continue to offer savings compared to buying multiple Anytime Single or Return tickets, while still providing flexibility for part-time or hybrid commuters. Super Off-Peak Day Return tickets will be withdrawn following the removal of peak fares. Railcards, concessions, and enhanced discounts will continue to be available, with most remaining valid for travel after 9.15am, in line with existing conditions. These changes are intended to make rail travel easier to understand and more accessible. Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, said: "Public ownership has created the opportunity to deliver a railway which is run for the benefit of the nation. "ScotRail is one of the fastest growing operators, with one of the best passenger satisfaction rates and we are building even further on this success by removing peak fares for good. "We want more people to choose to travel by public transport for work, study and leisure but we know that many are still struggling with cost-of-living pressures. "By removing peak fares, we are making ticketing more simple and more straightforward while at the same time supporting a shift towards sustainable public transport, protecting the climate, and saving people money." Joanne Maguire, managing director at ScotRail, said: "This is fantastic news, not only for our existing customers, but for everyone across the country considering rail travel for their commute or leisure journeys. "Travelling by train remains one of the most convenient ways to get around, and with simpler, more affordable fares, we hope to see many more people choose ScotRail."
Scotsman
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Oasis Murrayfield: Scottish Government requested Edinburgh concerts end early to take pressure off ScotRail
August concerts coincide with busy Edinburgh Festival Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scottish Government officials sought to have Oasis's Edinburgh gigs finishing early so fewer extra trains would be needed to get fans home, it has been revealed. However, the plea for the Murrayfield Stadium concerts to end before 10.45pm was met with a 'somewhat vociferous response' from organisers, a Freedom of Information (FOI) response showed. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Oasis performing on the opening night of their Live 25' Tour in Cardiff on July 4 |DF Concerts and venue officials rejected the call as 'any changes could/would likely impact on an artists' willingness to perform', The Scottish Sun on Sunday reported. Oasis are playing sold-out shows at Murrayfield on Friday, Saturday and the following Tuesday at a time when the Scottish capital's transport networks will be under greater pressure because of the Edinburgh festivals. But the plea came despite ScotRail managing director Joanne Maguire telling The Scotsman in February the Oasis gigs presented a 'huge opportunity' to encourage fans to travel by train more often. An official from Transport Scotland's events resilience team wrote: 'I asked if there was any consideration or scope in bringing end times forward slightly to minimise the necessity on enhanced/extended public transport. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'These events will still have challenges around audience movement — albeit it'll be less related to vulnerability and more akin to potential disorder should there be transport delays etc.' The FOI response showed the earlier finish request 'was met with a somewhat vociferous response by DF Concerts and, to a degree, SR Murrayfield'. Scottish Government-owned ScotRail is running extra trains from Haymarket after the concerts, including up to 11.22pm to Perth, 11.39pm to Dunblane, 12.02am to Dundee and 12.47am to Glasgow Queen Street. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scottish Conservatives transport spokesperson Sue Webber said: 'Huge events like this bring thousands of people to the city and millions of pounds to the economy. I pity the lackey who had to ask the Gallaghers if they wouldn't mind cutting short their set because the SNP can't run a train service. It's also an insult to fans who paid a small fortune.'
Times
06-05-2025
- Health
- Times
Alcohol ban on trains unworkable, says ScotRail chief
The alcohol ban on trains is unenforceable and there is no evidence it has had an impact on antisocial behaviour, the boss of ScotRail has told MSPs. The Scottish government brought in the policy in 2020 as part of its temporary measures to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Previously passengers could consume alcohol after 10am and before 9pm, and trains with catering services offered a range of drinks. Ministers have yet to repeal the Covid-era guidance even though figures emerged last year showing British Transport Police had not recorded any offences under the bylaw that bans intoxicating liquor on board trains and in stations. One MSP said the rule was 'completely pointless' Joanne Maguire, the ScotRail managing director, acknowledged the state-owned operator's guidance to staff was not to stop people from drinking as
Scottish Sun
06-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Scotrail's booze ban will be AXED in major boost for travellers
It comes after ScotRail managing director Joanne Maguire told MSPs last week there was no legal basis for staff to stop passengers drinking ON THE RIGHT TRACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK Scotrail's booze ban will be AXED in major boost for travellers Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PEAK ScotRail fares will be scrapped for good and booze will be allowed again on the nationalised operator, John Swinney announced today. The First Minister announced the tickets discount would kick in from September 1 despite a trial last year costing £40million and failing to prompt a major boost in passenger levels. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 The FM today announced the booze ban will be lifted on ScotRail trains Credit: PA The pilot had run until the end of September, but since then, the Scottish Government has seen its annual budget boosted by more than £3 billion as a knock-on effect of spending increases by Labour at Westminster. Mr Swinney said: 'Last year, in the face of severe budget pressures, we took the difficult decision to end the peak fares pilot on our railways. 'But now, given the work we have done to get Scotland's finances in a stronger position, and hearing also the calls from commuters, from climate activists and from the business community, I can confirm that, from September 1 this year, peak rail fares in Scotland will be scrapped for good. 'A decision that will put more money in people's pockets and mean less CO2 is pumped into our skies.' Last year, the Scottish Government blamed the axe on the discount on a lack of cash and said the year-long ScotRail promo had failed to prompt a big enough rise in passengers. The move meant fares rocketed after September 27 - including a peak-time return ticket almost doubling from £16.20 to £31.40 on the busy Glasgow-Edinburgh route. Fares have since risen again with annual increases. Mr Swinney's programme for government documents also revealed that the ban on alcohol on ScotRail - first introduced on services in November 2020 during the Covid pandemic - would end after calls from rail firms' bosses for it to be axed. It said 'measures to address anti-social behaviour to protect staff and passengers, particularly unacceptable behaviour targeted at women and girls' would continue. But added that: 'As part of this continuing programme, we will respond to the concerns of railway staff and others that the current general ScotRail alcohol ban - a last legacy of Covid restrictions - is counterproductive and ineffective and remove the ban on alcohol on trains. 'Great work lads', joke ScotRail users as they slam changes at major station "We will replace it with new regulations that focus restrictions more effectively on particular times and locations, similar to previous restrictions." The ban was brought in to combat drunk passengers and to "support the public health measures put in place by the Scottish Government to tackle coronavirus". Last week ScotRail managing director Joanne Maguire told MSPs staff there was no legal basis for staff to stop passengers drinking. Scottish Government agency Transport Scotland said there was "no confirmed date as yet" for when the booze ban would be lifted, and meetings about this would take place in due course. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Scottish Sun. is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheScottishSun.
Glasgow Times
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
ScotRail 'cannot enforce' alcohol ban admits train boss
Joanne Maguire was speaking to the Holyrood transport committee and she says staff cannot intervene if people are drinking on board trains. The ban was brought in during the Covid pandemic, with the rules previously being that passengers could drink on trains between 10am and 9pm. It was initially only due to be kept as part of temporary measures to deal with the pandemic but has stayed in place ever since. Figures released by British Transport Police showed there were no offences recorded under the bylaw. And the ScotRail managing director agreed that there were no links between people drinking on trains and anti-social behaviour. She told Holyrood's transport committee: 'The alcohol ban is a matter for Scottish government to make a decision on and we know it is not a straightforward decision to be made. The position of ScotRail is we cannot in fact enforce the ban as it is not a matter of law, our staff cannot enforce it. 'Our position is if staff are on a train they cannot intervene and ask people not to drink. 'There is no statistical link in terms of alcohol consumption and anti-social behaviour on the train but it does remain a policy matter for Scottish government as to whether or not the ban remains in place.'
