Alloa Advertiser | News | Kids go free on the Alloa train service

Saturday, 5th July, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 14th May, 2008 12:00

Kids go free on the Alloa train service

By Kevin McRoberts

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Children can travel free on First ScotRail services to and from the new Alloa Station when trains begin running.

Pic by: Jan van der Merwe

FAMILIES in Clackmannanshire are being given a huge incentive to use the new train services from Alloa with the announcement that children will travel free of charge.

It’s a move that’s likely to encourage greater use of the reopened railway line for family days out in the cities of Stirling, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

First ScotRail, who will operate services from Alloa Station from Monday, has announced that children aged five to 15 will be able to travel free on its trains across the country seven days a week. Children under five already travel free.

Under the ‘Kids Go Free’ initiative, each travelling adult can take up to two children free of charge on First ScotRail services outwith peak travel periods. Parents can also save money by choosing extra value fares. There is also no need to book in advance – simply turn up, buy a ticket and go.

First ScotRail’s announcement has been warmly welcomed by Clackmannanshire’s provost Derek Stewart and the area’s MSP Keith Brown.

Mr Stewart told the Advertiser, “This is fantastic – and First Scot-Rail has to be congratulated for this initiative. It’s a tremendous incentive for families to leave the car at home and take the train.

“I hope people in Clackmannanshire will make use of the new railway, and incentives like this should make it a more attractive form of public transport.

“I’m delighted that after years of campaigning, we finally have train services running to and from the county again – it’s a great boost for the area, and more so with offers such as kids travelling free.”

Mr Brown was equally pleased, describing the ‘Kids Go Free’ initiative as “exceptionally good news”.

“I’m sure this will encourage people to get out of their cars and take the train instead,” he said. “It’s an excellent scheme for families and will help keep the costs down for days out.”

He added that such a move vindicated the Scottish Government’s decision to extend First ScotRail’s franchise.

And he revealed that he was asking the Government about the possibility of extending concessionary rail travel to pensioners.

“The current concessionary travel scheme for Scotland’s pensioners allows only free travel on buses and I would like to see that extended to rail travel to remove any disincentive from using the trains,” said Mr Brown.

“However, it could be an expensive initiative to implement, so I don’t know if it will be possible – but it is something we should look at.”

First ScotRail said its ‘Kids Go Free’ initiative would provide a welcome boost for parents, especially during the summer holidays.

Peter Williams, First ScotRail’s commercial director, said, “With hundreds of attractions throughout Scotland, we are playing our part in keeping the fun factor high and the cost factor low. We hope that many more families will get out and about by train this summer.”

Until now, free travel for children travelling with parents, relatives or family friends was available on First ScotRail trains at weekends only.

Last year, more than 200,000 children travelled free, and by extending the offer to seven days a week, First ScotRail expects a significant increase in the number of children travelling on its trains.

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