As of early 2026, Glasgow will become the first Scottish city to trial free public transport on trains, buses, and subways. A selection of 1,000 citizens will be able to test the concept over a period of six weeks to allow for insights into the consequences of such a policy.
The Glasgow City Council has confirmed that somewhere early 2026, a group of 1,000 city residents will trial a free public transport scheme for six weeks (instead of the initial nine weeks). The project was first mentioned in 2021, the first funds to support the trial were allocated in 2024 (totalling £225,000 according to Secret Glasgow), and the official go-ahead was given on 30 October 2025. Glasgow will thus become the first Scottish city to trial free public transport for all.
More money in your pocket, more opportunities, and fewer emissions.
— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) October 10, 2025
I’m proud we introduced free bus travel for under-22s – and as of today, over 250 million free journeys were made across Scotland.
Together with scrapping peak rail fares, we’re making your commutes cheaper. pic.twitter.com/8dohisrOEk
Free transport for all
All 1,000 residents involved in the trial are between 22 and 59 years old, as those who are younger or older already have access to free bus travel using a National Entitlement Card (NEC). As of 2025, Glasgow bus fares vary between £3.60 and £5.90 per day, while a subway ticket costs £4.30 for the entire day. The participants will be given Strathclyde Partnership for Transport cards for unlimited travel.
Glasgow's 2026 free bus trial is sparking mixed feelings amongst commuters – We visited Buchanan Bus Station to see what Glaswegians think.#news #glasgowcity #Buses #publictransport pic.twitter.com/BlFV27ixCb
— Glasgow Standard (@GlasgowStand) October 31, 2025
According to SNP councillor Angus Millar, the pilot wants to assess how free public transport might affect travel choices, access to services, and participants’ overall wellbeing. One of the hopes of the project is that it might lower fossil fuel emissions, as free public transport might refrain citizens from private car use whenever possible.
“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”, said Christy Mearns, Scottish Greens councillor and transport spokesperson.
"It's also an opportunity to test out how differently people use public transport if the cost barrier is removed."@ChristyMearns has welcomed plans to roll out a pilot which will see 1,000 people in Glasgow receive free transport for 6 weeks at the start of 2026. pic.twitter.com/npGN3SZMWf
— That's TV Glasgow (@ThatsTVGlasgow) November 5, 2025
Once the trial has been completed, the data gathered during the experiment will be used to inform the wider discussion on the future of Glasgow’s public transport. According to earlier estimates, the scheme would cost £10.6 million each week for those eligible.
Just a day after the news of the Scottish trial starting early 2026, the British government dismissed a proposal to trial free bus passes to those under 22 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as it was judged to be “unaffordable”.
