Ministers are under renewed pressure to end first class ticketing on ScotRail services, after investigation by Scottish Green researchers found that just 2% of first class seats were occupied in 2023-24.
The vast majority sat empty, while passengers in standard class regularly faced overcrowding and standing-room only, particularly during busy periods such as the summer festivals between Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Mark Ruskell, the party’s transport spokesperson, tabled an amendment in the Scottish Parliament calling for new rail stations and the removal of first class seating on commuter services.
Ruskell said: “Our railways are for all of us, but we’ve all had the experience of having to stand in a packed carriage when the first class one is completely empty.
“Anyone who has got on a busy commuter train from Glasgow to Edinburgh during the festivals in August knows how uncomfortable this can be, especially in the heat which can lead to people becoming unwell.
“If 98% of first class seats are not even being used then what is the point in them? It makes no sense to divide up our trains that way, especially when we are scrapping peak fares and trying to get more people on to them.
“Every journey should be a first class experience regardless of how much we are paying for it. Rail should be about the need to travel rather than the ability to pay for what are often very expensive tickets.
“If we are to build a people’s railway for the 21st century then it should be welcoming, inclusive and accessible to all.
“I hope all parties will get behind my call. First class rail is a dated idea. It is at odds with a ScotRail that is run for everyone and it means less seats and busier carriages for the rest of us.
“More rail companies are taking steps to reduce first class services. It’s time that ScotRail did the same.”
Freedom of Information figures show just 39,000 first class tickets were sold out of two million available on ScotRail between April 2023 and April 2024, with similar low occupancy recorded in previous years.
Ruskell and the Scottish Greens argue that declassifying first class immediately- or replacing these carriages with standard seating- would increase overall capacity on Scotland’s network and improve the commuter experience.
Transport Scotland contends that first class compartments, while underused on commuter runs, still provide important income- generating around £8 million annually.
First class travel is said to attract tourists and long-distance travellers and supports cross-border arrangements, though some services allow staff to declassify first class when trains are especially busy.
ScotRail’s commercial director, Claire Dickie, stated, “The revenue generated from this service is reinvested to deliver wider benefits for all customers.”
In Case You Missed it:
A growing number of UK train operators, including London Northwestern Railway, Greater Anglia, and Southeastern, are phasing out first class seats in response to changing travel patterns and demand for more capacity on commuter lines.
The onset of permanent off-peak travel and increased focus on accessibility and value for passengers may prompt further changes in the months ahead.
