SCOTLAND'S Transport Minister has agreed to look at why West Fife's rail commuters are being ripped off on the way to work.

The Press has highlighted throughout the summer that the cost for our commuters can be up to three times than other parts of Scotland for the same length of journey with Transport Scotland and rail operators Abelio admitting recently there was "an acknowledgement that there are significant price differences for Fife commuters."

Now, Transport Minister Humza Yousaf has agreed to look at the cost diicrepancy after a meeting with Fife Council depute leader and Inverkeithing councillor, Lesley Laird.

Council leader David Ross and Ms Laird met the minister to discuss various transport issues concerning Fife and Councillor Laird took the opportunity to raise the issue of rail fare charges with him.

She said: “The minister was very receptive to the case we have been making over the last few months regarding fairer train prices and he understood where this issue fits in the context of a fairer and more equal Fife and Scotland.

"He has now agreed to look at this issue in more detail to better understand the regional variations on rail pricing.”

And Councillor Laird has demanded action sooner rather than later: “I outlined to the Minister that we fully appreciate this is a long standing issue going back to 2005 and one not easy to address. There is then all the more reason to work on it sooner rather than later so that we can put in place a fairer solution.”

A previous request has been made to Transport Scotland to form a working group to look at this issue with a view of developing and bringing forward recommendations on a fairer rail pricing structure.

Councillor Laird said: “This is a good time to move forward with this work. I am pleased that the minister was receptive to this idea and that he has agreed to give further consideration to the issue of either a separate working group or incorporate the work into the announced review of the national transport strategy.

“Everyone agrees that we have a compelling case and that it is simply not fair that Fifers subsidise other rail users in Scotland by paying two and three times more per rail mile.

"Hopefully, the Minister will support our case by agreeing to form a working group to start addressing this issue now.”