A LOCAL politician has welcomed the slashing of peak time railway fares for East Renfrewshire residents.

Tom Arthur MSP has said the scheme, which started on Monday, October 2, and will last six months, is "fantastic".

As part of it, the cost of peak fares on some of Scotland's busiest routes such as Glasgow to Edinburgh will be reduced by as much as 48%.

Tom Arthur MSP said: "It is fantastic to see the Scottish Government investment deliver the scrapping of peak fares on publicly-owned ScotRail services for the next six months.

“This trial, backed by £15 million of Scottish Government funding, will make our rail services more accessible and encourage active travel, benefitting the health and well-being of communities like Renfrewshire South and advancing progress towards our ambitious net zero goals.

“I encourage all residents of Renfrewshire South to take full advantage of this pilot."