Fair Fares Review
The Fair Fares Review aims to deliver on the commitment set out in the First Minister`s Policy Prospectus, published in April 2023, to advance towards making our public transport system more accessible, available, and affordable, with the costs of transport more fairly shared across government, business and society. The review outlines the options, recommendations, actions, and next steps required towards achieving our vision for the future of public transport in Scotland.
The Fair Fares Review establishes a framework which will be built upon as we progress with wider work to deliver on our vision for the Future of Public Transport. The Review is presented as a suite of documents, including the overarching ‘Main Report’ alongside four supporting papers which set the direction for achieving a public transport system that is financially sustainable in the long term and which provides affordable, frequent, and integrated services that are responsive to the needs of communities across Scotland.
The Review highlights the challenges facing public transport and presents options on the immediate-short and medium to long-term actions that are available to reform our current transport offering to deliver more effectively. Public transport has a crucial role to play in achieving this governments priorities on equality, opportunity and community. The Review presents an opportunity to address how we deliver on these objectives and improve Scotland’s public transport system, delivering in a fairer and simpler way.
Main Report
This paper details the rationale for intervention, gives strategic context and outlines the scope and approach of the Fair Fares Review. The paper highlights challenges facing the public transport landscape and presents immediate-short and medium to long-term recommendations and actions towards delivering out vision of making public transport more available, accessible and affordable.
Supporting Paper 1 - Public Transport System Analysis
This paper provides details on the methodology and analysis of options considered under the Fair Fares Review.
Supporting Paper 2 - Case for Change
This paper provides an analysis of problems, issues, opportunities, and constraints in relation to public transport and considers the impact of emerging themes including Covid-19, the costs of using public transport relative to the costs of using a private car, the Cost-of-Living crisis, the equity of access to existing Concessionary Travel Schemes, the long term decline of bus patronage and service provision pre-pandemic and the unintended consequences of current fares structures.
Supporting Paper 3 - Poverty Alliance Research Report
This paper provides evidence from research that was carried out by The Poverty Alliance Group in November 2022. A panel of citizens from both rural and urban areas, with lived experience of poverty and accessing public transport, were interviewed as part of this report. The paper outlines feedback received including the groups aspirations for public transport relating to various aspects including cost, availability, reliability, safety, public ownership, and concessionary travel schemes.
Supporting Paper 4 - International Benchmarking
This paper reflects upon the public transport interventions implemented in response to the cost-of-living crisis and climate change/modal shift objectives. Examples of best practice adopted in other Countries in relation to the delivery, funding and integration of public transport services is provided. The paper also provides international city region and rural community case studies.