When the Scottish government decided to fund free travel on buses in Scotland for both under 22s and over 60s the package didn’t extend to the Edinburgh Trams system. As a result the City of Edinburgh Council decided to fund this themselves but with pressures on council budgets there was a recommendation in 2022 that this ended (although the recommendation has not, at this stage, been accepted). Now, with this debate continuing Lothian MSP Miles Briggs has called on the Scottish government to change their stance and include the trams going forward.
Mr Briggs, a Scottish Conservative MSP, said: “The deal on free fares for under-22s on buses does not include the trams or the Glasgow subway, but it’s only fair that Edinburgh and Glasgow get compensated for under-22s to have free travel on these networks too. I’m keen that young people who want to use the trams don’t lose out. Obviously it’s important for people who are seeking work to be able to get to where there are new jobs.”
In response to Mr Briggs’ request, Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth confirmed that the SNP administration was not planning to extend funding to include the trams but that they are “undertaking a Fair Fares Review that will look at the range of discounts and concessionary schemes which are available on all modes.”
Mr Briggs will now be writing to John Swinney, Finance Secretary, asking him to reconsider the funding.