An integrated ticketing system is long overdue - Lorna Slater
Our public transport system is too complicated. You can board a bus with one ticket, step onto a train with another and then find yourself needing something else entirely for a ferry. For a country that prides itself on innovation and fairness, this patchwork system feels outdated.
It is confusing, often expensive and it puts people off making the greener choice. Across Europe, integrated ticketing is already the norm. One card, one tap, one journey. It is simple, affordable and accessible. Yet here in Scotland, too many people are still forced to navigate a maze of different operators, fares and payment systems just to get from A to B.
That is why the Scottish Greens are proposing a bold but practical solution, a national integrated ticketing system known as the Scotcard.
This would introduce a tap on, tap off system across buses, trains and ferries, with daily fare caps to ensure that no one pays more than they should. It would mean an end to juggling multiple tickets and an end to the uncertainty of spiralling costs.
We know this approach works. Similar schemes in countries like Germany and Austria have transformed how people travel, making public transport the easy, default choice. Scotland should be leading the way, not lagging behind.
Crucially, integrated ticketing is not just about convenience. It is about fairness and tackling the climate crisis. Transport remains Scotland’s largest source of carbon emissions and if we are serious about reducing them, we must make buses and trains more attractive than driving.
We have already shown what Green voices in Parliament can achieve. Free bus travel for under 22s has opened up opportunities for young people across the country. The removal of peak rail fares has helped commuters during the cost of living crisis. These are real changes that have made a difference to people’s lives.
An integrated system like Scotcard would build on that progress, creating a transport network that is simpler, fairer and fit for the future. It would help families with rising costs, support workers getting to their jobs, and encourage more people to leave the car at home.
This May, voters have a choice about the kind of Scotland they want to see. A vote for the Scottish Greens is a vote for practical solutions like integrated ticketing. It is a vote for a transport system that works for people, not profit and for a future where the greener choice is also the easiest one.
If we want a Scotland that is connected, affordable and climate conscious, then it is time to get on board.