Trains between Inverness and Elgin see ticket sales decline with calls to scrap next price hike
The number of people purchasing rail tickets from stations in Inverness, Nairn and Elgin has declined in the past year according to recent figures.
A Freedom of Information request submitted by local Lib Dem activist Neil Alexander have revealed that the number of tickets purchased at each of these stations (from ticket offices and self-service ticket machines) all decreased in the past year, with the number from Inverness declining by over 10 per cent and Nairn by almost 8 per cent.
This sparked concerns over the increasing prices of train tickets after peak rail fare prices were reintroduced last year, as well as price increases of 8.7 per cent.
ScotRail train prices are due to rise again this year by 3.8 per cent in April.
In response to these figures, Highland and Moray Lib Dem spokesperson, Neil Alexander, has called on the Scottish Government to scrap planned rail fare hikes in April this year.
“These figures paint a worrying picture of the current state of our train services in the Highlands,” he said.
“Fewer people are using the train as a means of transport, and with the cost of living already putting significant strain on families, the proposed fare increase in April could not come at a worse time.
“The Scottish Government must listen to Highland commuters and cancel this fare hike. We should be looking at ways to make our publicly-owned train travel more affordable and accessible for everyone.
“We cannot afford to make it more expensive to travel by train when alternatives are limited and the climate crisis demands greater use of public transport, not less."
Mr Alexander’s call comes as part of a broader effort to ensure that rural communities are not left behind in the push for accessible, green transport options.
He said: "It should not be cheaper by far to travel by car than to use the bus or train, and it's time the Scottish Government listened to our Highland commuters concerns, not just those in the central belt."
However, figures released by ScotRail and including tickets sold via the ScotRail website or app show journeys between Elgin and Inverness rising from 62,789 in 2022/23, to 79,908 in 2023/24.
Between Inverness and Nairn journeys increased from 62,435 in 2022/23 to 84,563 in 2023/24.
In the 2024/25 year to date, there has been 74,842 journeys between Inverness and Elgin, and 80,274 journeys between Inverness and Nairn despite being impacted by the temporary timetable which operated between July 2024 and October 2024 during a pay dispute.
He said: "It should not be cheaper by far to travel by car than to use the bus or train, and it's time the Scottish Government listened to our Highland commuters concerns, not just those in the central belt."
Scott Prentice, ScotRail Strategy and Planning Director, said: “The figures cited by Mr Alexander only account for tickets purchased at ticket offices and self-service machines. They do not reflect the actual number of journeys made.
“In reality, journeys between Elgin and Inverness and between Inverness and Nairn have increased significantly in recent years, and we expect to see a further rise by the end of this fiscal year, despite the temporary timetable impacting journeys in 2024.
“While there is always more to do to encourage people across the country to choose to travel by train, these numbers clearly show that rail travel in the Highlands is increasing, not declining, and claims to the contrary fail to acknowledge the full picture.”
