Free access to public transport could soon become a reality in Glasgow, as Glasgow City Council has confirmed its new trial for 2026. We are certain the community will warmly welcome this, and 1,000 locals will be selected to participate in the trial and receive free travel on buses, trains, and the subway.
Instead of the previously covered proposal of nine weeks of free travel, the free public transport trial in Glasgow has been shortened to six weeks. However, the initiative has been in the works since 2021, so the news is a win, nevertheless!
£225,000 has been allocated for the trial, and the initiative received its final approval on October 30.
How will the free public transport trial work in Glasgow
1,000 people aged between 22 and 59 will be selected to participate, each receiving a preloaded travel card for six weeks – giving them access to buses, the Subway and local trains across Zones 1 and 2 in Glasgow.
The exact date and who will be selected have not yet been confirmed, and the trial will mark further discussions regarding free public transport across the city and nationwide.
Currently, single bus fares in Glasgow cost from £3.60 to £5.90, while subway fares are £1.80 one-way or £4.30 for a day ticket.
Angus Millar, the council’s transport convenor, said: “The pilot aims to explore how free access to public transport affects travel choices, access to services and participants’ overall well-being.”
Christy Mearns, Scottish Greens councillor and transport spokesperson, added: “As a city with one of the lowest levels of car ownership across the whole of Scotland, this will have a transformative impact for people living in poverty and experiencing social isolation, and I hope that it will pave the way for expanding free public transport in Glasgow longer-term.”