A NEW concessionary fares structure is set to be introduced by the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme (SCTS).
This will see a move away from the currently basic concessionary fare to a new 'half-fare' with cap structure from April 1.
The change means from next month for the majority of concessionary journeys, the SCTS will offer a minimum 50% discount against operator standard fares.
Capped fares will apply for all ferry journeys and certain rural rail journeys.
The SCTS relies on funding from the 12 local authorities in the west of Scotland and provides discounts for users on rail, SPT Subway and on ferry services for eligible island and peninsula residents.
It helps facilitate more than five million journeys each year at a typical costs of £4.5million annually to local authorities.
Without changes to the structure, the scheme was in danger of closing or being curtailed with only one or two years' worth of funding reserves remaining.
The decision to introduce a new fares structure was made following an in-depth review of the scheme carried out in 2020, with recommendations presented to the Scheme's Joint Committee in March 2021.
Scheme fares will increase in line with fare inflation each year.
Cllr Stephen Dornan, chair of the SCTS Joint Committee, said: "While we appreciate and fully support the popularity of the concessionary travel scheme, the basic fare structure it was operating under was putting the scheme at risk.
"Concessionary fares have not kept pace with wider operator fare increases so the scheme has been costing more year-on-year, and local authorities, facing decreasing budgets, simply cannot afford to contribute more to the scheme.
"This situation has now become financially unsustainable, and we faced the very real prospect of losing the scheme if we didn't make substantial changes.
"So, from April 1, 2025, we will now implement a half standard fare and a revised cap on ferry and rural rail routes with scheme fares increasing in line with fare inflation each year thereafter.
"The cap will be set for the first year at £2.50 single and £4.00 return."
a) Oban; Connel Ferry; Taynuilt; Falls of Cruachan; Loch Awe; Dalmally; Bridge of Orchy; Ardlui; Arrochar & Tarbet; Garelochhead; Helensburgh Stations