A GREEN MSP believes Scotrail's upcoming peak-time ticket price trial will be "game-changing" for Dumbarton commuters.

Ross Greer, the Scottish Green MSP for the West of Scotland has hailed the cheaper rail fares pilot which will see peak-time rail fares scrapped across Scotland from October 2.

The scheme, which will last for at least six months, will provide huge financial relief to people commuting to and from Dumbarton at peak hours, with a peak-time day return to Glasgow from Dumbarton Central costing £6.00 instead of £9.00 and a trip to Edinburgh and back costing  £23.90, down from £41.00. 

It's a positive step in recent tough economic conditions and Mr Greer is in no doubt which party helped secure the new initiative.

He said: “I’m proud that with Scottish Greens in government, we are introducing this trial, ending the two-tier pricing system and helping thousands of people across Dumbarton to cut costs while leaving the car at home.

“Every pound saved on a commute is money that can instead go towards heating, eating, and other costs which are continuing to rise as a result of Westminster’s cost of living crisis.

“This is a game-changing opportunity to transform habits, cut congestion, save money, and make our communities safer, cleaner and greener places to live and work.

“We’ve already seen how another Scottish Greens policy, free bus travel for everyone under 22, has boosted bus use since we launched it last year, with tens of thousands of journeys being taken across Scotland every day.

“By helping more people choose the train or bus, and making our streets safer to walk, wheel and cycle, we are beginning to see the kind of positive, transformational change that Scottish Greens joined the government to deliver.

"Change that will help people, communities like Dumbarton and the Vale, and our planet.”

The trial, which will be a Scottish Government-funded project, has come about due to a fall in numbers using the trains, post the Covid-19 pandemic.

Scotrail say the lockdowns changed the commuter market, with a significant drop in the number of people travelling during the traditional peak times. 

It is claimed that the market is only 70 per cent of what it was before the pandemic.

Commuters are warned that trains will be busier during the trial period, with the expectation that more will opt for a train rather than their car.