A West Scotland MSP has celebrated residents saving “hundreds of pounds” as he marks one month since the Scottish Government scrapped peak-time train fares as part of a national trial.

Green MSP Ross Greer has stated that people in and around Helensburgh who would have had to buy peak-time tickets to Glasgow and beyond will have saved over £100 – with those travelling to Edinburgh saving over £500.

Mr Greer said: “Many Helensburgh residents are already saving hundreds of pounds as a result of this Scottish Greens policy and I’m sure it is encouraging others who hadn’t previously travelled by train to begin doing so.

“This trial is critical to our efforts to both help people through the cost-of-living crisis and to tackle the climate crisis by reducing emissions from cars.

“I’d strongly encourage local residents to make best use of these cheaper peak-time trains, which will in turn help us win the argument to make this change permanent.”

As of Monday, October 2, the Scottish Government introduced a six-month trial period where they would remove peak-time rail fares.

If the trial is seen to be successful, it could be extended to cover a longer period.

The move has been backed by rail workers’ unions - particularly train drivers’ union ASLEF.