Glasgow commuters face ZoneCard price hike as some fares to go up by more than half

Glasgow commuters are to see ZoneCard prices increase this month, with some fares to go up by over 65 per cent.

A new smart ticket system will be introduced from Monday, June 24 with season tickets, one-day tickets, and flexible ticket options available for bus, train and subway travel throughout the city.

However, prices have increased as part of the restructuring, with a one-week card for all zones going from £75.10 to £124 – a 65% increase.

A ten-week pass for Zone 2 is to increase from £178 to £272 for Zone 1 and to £416.50 for both Zones 1 and 2.

An annual season ticket for the same area currently costs £815, but is set to rise to £1,248 for Zone 1 and £1,911 for Zones 1 and 2.

The current ZoneCard prices before the new system is introduced.

The number of zones has also gone from 12 to seven as part of the updated system.

The new prices to be introduced as of June 24.

Existing ZoneCard tickets, including at ScotRail stations, can still be purchased until July 22 and any existing tickets will remain valid until their printed expiry date.

The ZoneCard Forum makes ticketing arrangement decisions as a collective involving all operators, is administered by SPT.

It said individual bus, rail and subway prices had increased with inflation but the ZoneCard prices hadn’t for “several years”.

A ZoneCard Forum spokesperson said: “The Zonecard ticketing arrangement is administered by SPT on behalf of the ZoneCard Forum which is made up of participating operators.

“All decisions about ZoneCard are made collectively by the operators.

“The current ZoneCard prices have not been increased for several years, while individual bus, rail and Subway prices have all increased with inflation.

“As part of the move to the new smart ZoneCard the new ticket prices have been comprehensively reviewed by the Forum for the first time in several years, taking into account current operator pricing as well as the new Zone structure.

Commuters are being advised the ZoneCard map has been updated. SPT

“ZoneCard is intended to offer good value where customers are travelling regularly using more than one mode of transport several days a week.

“For single operator travel (e.g. rail only) a single operator ticket will provide better value for money.

“The ZoneCard has been running for 30+ years and from June 24 will become a smart product so should be more flexible and more convenient to use and renew.

“The ZoneCard map has also been updated so there are less zones and many people may find they don’t need as many zones to cover their travel and that they can travel further within these new zones.”

Customers can find out more here.