Richard Leonard: give Glasgow a London-style system for public transport fares Scottish Labour leader backs calls for integrated ticketing

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has backed plans to introduce a London-style integrated ticketing system across Glasgow’s transport network.

Transport union TSSA overwhelmingly voted for a motion calling for “connected ticketing for travel within Glasgow”. This would be similar to London’s system. Transport for London allows passengers to use Oyster smart-cards and contactless payment across the Underground, buses, trams and rail networks.

‘Easier and cheaper’

After speaking at the union’s conference in Glasgow, Mr Leonard told i : “I am pleased that the TSSA conference supported the calls to improve ticketing in Glasgow. Tickets that can be used across multiple transport providers makes travelling by public transport easier and often cheaper.

“And with the climate change emergency, the SNP government must do much more and move with much more urgency to support more user-friendly and connected ticketing for travel within Glasgow.”

The union’s motion, which said Glasgow had one of “the worst ticketing systems for public transport in the country”, called for ScotRail booking offices to “be able to sell tickets which include onward travel” on buses and the Subway.

Allan O’Hare, a TSSA rep in the union’s West of Scotland branch, said the current system of paper “zone cards” for regular travellers was “not fit for a twenty-first century transport system” and was not widely known about.

“I trust we can agree that the Oyster card system in London has been a benefit to London, and the proper implementation of a smart ticket system is for the good of all passengers in an urban area,” he said.

“Cross-city travel for tourists, those who wish to explore outside the city area, the urban commuter – all passengers would benefit.”

Separate tickets and higher fares

Currently commuters in the city who change between different means of transport often buy separate tickets. This pushes up the cost of travel for many. Additionally, some competing bus operators do not accept tickets bought from their rivals.

A single bus fare from Glasgow’s south side to the city centre costs £2.40. But passengers making the same journey by train could pay as little as £1.45 for a return, with a railcard discount.

Get Glasgow Moving

In 2016 transport campaigners started Get Glasgow Moving. The group lobbies for “all private transport companies” to “accept one smartcard”. It says this approach would “establish affordable integrated ticketing” across the city with a daily fare cap.

As well as London, they point to the cheaper, publicly-owned bus network in Edinburgh as a good example.

Public ownership?

Campaign founder Ellie Harrison told i : “The privatisation, fragmentation and marketisation of our public transport since our buses were de-regulated by Margaret Thatcher in 1986 is the key reason why Glasgow’s network is such a complicated, uncoordinated and expensive mess.

“We must wholeheartedly reject the ‘partnership’ model which has failed Glasgow in the twenty years since devolution, since Scotland has had control over most aspects of its transport network.”

Ms Harrison said new powers for public ownership and re-regulation of buses in the Transport Bill coming before the Scottish Parliament “finally offer a chance to change things for the better”.

In the zone

A spokeswoman for the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport said: “SPT accepts a range of smartcards issued by other operators for use on the Subway including McGills, Stagecoach, Glasgow Tripper, and NX Dundee.



“ScotRail products can also be added to Subway Smartcards and vice versa to make travelling by Subway and train more convenient. We are delighted to work with any operator to achieve more accessible and convenient travel options for all passengers, including concession travel which is determined by Transport Scotland.