Fifty per cent ticket price discounts announced by ScotRail for Scottish students heading to and from home over Christmas
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SPECIAL Christmas discounts will give students a 50 per cent saving on ScotRail ticket prices when they return home this festive season.
Announcing the move, the rail operator said that students will be able to take advantage of half price travel on any off-peak ScotRail service until Christmas Eve.
All a student needs to do to take advantage of the offer is turn up at a staffed ticket office with their ID, jump on board and head home to their loved ones.
The rail operator believes the reduction "will be a huge boost to students who are worried about getting back to their families under the current coronavirus travel restrictions".
Students need to record a negative Covid-19 test before they travel, but test appointments and the time taken to produce results mean students will find it almost impossible to book specific train services.
And that has prompted ScotRail's discount on off-peak tickets prices, which will be a flexible, open-return ticket valid for one month after purchase. It believes this will allow most students to return to their studies in January after another negative coronavirus test. The discount will be available on both off-peak day return and off-peak return tickets.
Lesley Kane, ScotRail commercial director, said: “Students are going through a hard enough time just now trying to keep up with their studies while worrying about catching coronavirus and balancing their finances.
“We think this half price deal on tickets is the best gift we can give them before Christmas and we’re sure it will be very popular amongst students who want to get home to see loved ones at this special family time of the year.
“We are confident ScotRail will be able to carry all passengers safely over the festive period by observing the five rules for safer travel, including wearing a face covering and maintaining physical distancing.”
Students will be able to purchase the discounted tickets up until December 24, which would mean they would have until January 23 to use the return portion of the journey.
