It can be a rail bargain for passengers travelling by train to Highland villages – by booking a ticket well beyond their destination.
A woman who journeys regularly from Glasgow to Spean Bridge discovered that if she books a single ticket to Fort William, 10 miles beyond her destination, she saves more than £15.
The online price of a single ticket to Spean Bridge costs £28.90, but to Fort William only £13.30.
The traveller, who did not wish to be named, said: “I always book single tickets a day or so before travel because they usually work out cheaper than a return, but I was really surprised to find that if I book to Fort William it saves me so much more.
“It’s no problem getting off the train early because there are no ticket collectors at the small stations.”
ScotRail’s online booking system revealed that similar savings can be made at other stations on the line including Roy Bridge which is around 12 miles before Fort William.
And a ticket to Corrour, a hugely popular destination for walkers, the lowest single fare is £23.70–but if travellers actually make a reservation to Fort William, 20 miles beyond, it’s only £13.30, a saving of £10.40.
ScotRail say that Advance tickets are available on selected routes with high passenger demand, making it commercially viable to offer discounts.
As well as offering savings, Advance tickets help to encourage people to use less busy trains outwith peak times. Advance tickets are available only when high levels of demand exist, for longer-distance travel in particular.
A ScotRail spokeswoman said: “As always, we encourage new passengers to travel by train.
“Advance tickets offer significant savings on ‘walk-up’ standard fares, and are increasingly popular with customers, who are able to plan ahead and be flexible when they travel.
“They are generally available on the most popular mid to longer distance services in Scotland.”