Work under way to remove free bus travel for poor behaviour

The Scottish Government is working to make public transport safer in Scotland, including removing free bus travel if needed, a minister has said.

During climate action, energy and transport questions at Holyrood on Thursday, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said the First Minister is working to “remove free bus travel” from anyone who “doesn’t act responsibly”.

She was asked by Claire Baker, a Labour MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, for an update on work to improve safety on public transport.

Hyslop replied: “Everyone has the right to be and feel safe when using or working on our public transport network. Transport Scotland is working to make travel safer for all.

“ScotRail is delivering an ongoing programme of conflict management training for all frontline staff and has recently expanded its travel safe team.

“To support this, a working group has been established to review how police enforcement powers are applied on the railways and how this can be strengthened.

“The First Minister set out a Programme for Government commitment to remove free bus travel from any person of any age who doesn’t act responsibly.”

She also said a “behaviour code” for passengers is being developed.

She said: “Work is ongoing to develop a behaviour code for scheme users, with legislation planned to suspend access to free bus travel.

“Alongside this, work is ongoing with bus operators to explore the use of travel safety officers on the bus network along with enhancing educational materials for bus passengers on safety.”

Unite the union released findings last November from a mass survey of 1,100 bus drivers across Scotland.

It showed 84% of drivers said the number of instances of abuse at work had increased in previous 12 months.

The union has been campaigning to improve bus driver safety after the death of Keith Rollinson in February 2024 following an assault at his place of work in Elgin, Moray.

A 16-year-old was initially charged with the bus driver’s murder but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of culpable homicide.