Scottish Labour’s Ian Murray has pledged a major overhaul of public transport if his party is elected on May 5.
The Edinburgh South MP said the SNP has “singularly failed” to deliver an “integrated transport system”.
Mr Murray, who was speaking at a campaign event in the capital, also pledged to introduce a “Smart Card” ticketing system, which he said would make travelling on public transport “very good” for commuters and rural communities.
Labour’s only MP north of the border made the remarks on the eve of a speech by party leader Kezia Dugdale on Arran today, where she will pledge to halt the controversial “privatisation” of CalMac ferries.
Meanwhile the SNP’s Nicola Sturgeon used a visit to a pharmacy in Falkirk to attack Conservative rival Ruth Davidson over her plan to reintroduce prescription charges in Scotland.
Ms Davidson – who played ice hockey with the Scotland under-20’s in Dumfries yesterday – said an average worker would pay £160 more a year in tax under Scottish Labour’s plans.
Mr Murray said: “The SNP in their manifesto in 2007 promised to re-regulate bus services in Scotland and they singularly failed to do so.
“What we have said is that, if you really want an integrated transport system in Scotland, you have to do it on the basis that it is easier to use, more services around and that there is nobody left out.
“Of course, rural areas are the areas that are most impacted by a lack of proper services.
“So our re-regulation will look at smart ticketing which would mean all operators would be under legislation to be involved in the system – very much like the Oyster Card that has transformed transport in London.
“That should be the ambition for the transport system in Scotland.
“So whether you’re on a bus, a tram, a train, the underground or even a ferry you would be able to use this smart ticket and we will make sure we deliver that.”
But SNP Transport Minister Derek Mackay branded Scottish Labour’s proposals “out of date”.
He added: “We are already rolling out national smart card plans across ScotRail, introducing systems so the same cards can be used on ScotRail and the Glasgow Subway and working with our bus and ferry companies to ensure the Saltire national concessionary travel cards used by 1.9 million travellers are usable across the transport network.”
Earlier, Ms Davidson had attacked Labour’s policy to raise income tax, which the party claim would generate about £500million to invest in education.
Ms Davidson said: “Scottish Labour are going into an election saying they want to take extra relief for families away. Somebody earning £20,000 will have to pay £85 more than in the rest of the UK.
“A worker on the average wage in Scotland will have to pay an extra £160 than if they had the same job south of the border.”
