Improving Scotland’s transport system

The SNP is investing in getting Scotland moving – by road, rail, ferry, bike or on foot. Here is just some of the action we’re taking in government.

Rail: more seats, services and stations

  • Since we took office we’ve invested over £7.7 billion to maintain and upgrade tracks, stations and trains in Scotland – twice as much per head than the UK Government. 
  • Since coming to office, the number of daily train services has increased from around 2,000 to almost 2,300. And, from late 2018 there will be 200 extra train services per day.

Investing in public and sustainable transport 

  • We’ve invested £1 billion annually in public and sustainable transport to encourage people out of cars.
  • The concessionary bus pass is providing free bus travel on local or Scottish long-distance buses for Scotland’s older people.
  • We’re starting work to deliver three months’ free bus travel to those receiving the new Jobs Grant, as well as free bus travel for Modern Apprentices aged under 21.
  • We’ve put in place record investment in cycling and walking – constructing, upgrading or resurfacing almost 700 kilometres of walking and cycling paths.  

Transforming Scotland’s road network

  • Scotland’s roads and bridges are toll free. The average commuter travelling on the Forth and Tay bridges has saved around £2,000 each since the SNP abolished the last of the transport tolls in February 2008.
  • We’re transforming Scotland’s road network. Since 2007, we’ve spent over £8.2 billion on our Motorways and Trunk Road Network.
  • The next year will see the completion of major road projects like the Queensferry Crossing, the AWPR and the M8/M74/M73 improvements.
  • The new M8 will be fully open by 30 April 2017 so that Glasgow and Edinburgh will be connected by uninterrupted motorway for the first time – reducing peak journey times by 20 minutes. 
  • With tolls on the Forth and Tay bridges abolished, commuters continue to save £184 a year on crossing the Tay and £207 a year on crossing the Forth.

Keeping ferry and air fares down for remote and island communities

  • Last year we significantly reduced ferry fares on all ferry routes in the Clyde and Hebrides through the rollout of Road Equivalent Tariff. Since then passenger numbers have increased to the highest level since 1997.
  • Six ferries have been added to CalMac’s fleet, and two more new ferries are due for delivery in 2018.
  • Residents of Caithness and north-west Sutherland, Colonsay, Islay, Jura, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles are eligible for a 50 per cent discount on air fares.
  • A record £1 billion has been invested in vessels, ports and ferry services since 2007 as part of our commitment to our islands and remote communities.

Ensuring travel is accessible to all

  • We’ve launched Scotland’s first Accessible Travel Framework, to help us identify and remove disabling barriers which prevent people travelling or make their journeys an unpleasant experience.