TICKET prices on the slower Glasgow to Edinburgh train should be reduced permanently according to a Glasgow MSP.

ScotRail has cut the price of a peak time fare on the line via Airdrie between the cities to £13 almost half the normal peak fare, while they have shorter trains running on the main route via Falkirk.

John Mason, Shettleston SNP MSP, asked Transport Minister Humza Yousaf if ScotRail should consider making it permanent because it is a slower route.

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Mr Mason said: “ScotRail obviously faces challenges with capacity on the Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk line, and it is suggesting that it will reduce the fares on the line via Airdrie and Bathgate, which is marginally slower. Does the minister agree that that is an imaginative and positive step and that, perhaps, it could be used in future so that a lower fare would be offered on a slower route?

Mr Yousaf said: “Any lessons that can be learned from that about encouraging or incentivising passengers to use other available routes, albeit that they may be slower, would be a positive.”

He said the priority was to get the new longer trains delivered.

He added: “If there are any lessons that can be learned from the reduced pricing that has been offered to incentivise people to use other routes, we should learn those lessons.”

The problems occurred because the new trains have not been delivered on time ant he lease on four trains used on the route runs out leaving it to run reduced capacity trains

The reduced fare is in place until mid may when timetables change and the fare will revert to the peak time rate.

ScotRail said there were no plans to introduce a permanently cheaper peak time ticket on the Glasgow to Edinburgh via Airdrie line.