It revealed that 56% of passengers wish to see an finish to the prohibition, with simply 29% in favour of conserving it. One other 15% responded “possibly/do not know”.
READ MORE: Public are 50/50 on ending Scotrail booze ban, claims operator
The figures are at seemingly odds with earlier feedback from ScotRail bosses.
Showing earlier than Holyrood’s Web Zero, Power and Transport Committee final month, Alex Hynes, who leaves his publish as managing director of Scotland’s Railway this week, advised MSPs there was “no clear winner by way of public opinion”.
“The alcohol ban divides opinion,” he mentioned. “Everybody has a view on it. Some folks would love to have the ability to drink on trains and a few individuals are vehemently towards consuming on trains.
ScotRail’s Chief Working Officer Joanne Maguire agreed. She mentioned there was “roughly round a 50/50 cut up on views of alcohol”.
Strict guidelines forbidding consuming have been introduced in slightly below 4 years in the past firstly of the pandemic in a bid to maintain travellers socially distant.
Beforehand, passengers may drink after 10am and earlier than 9pm and have been capable of purchase beer, wine and spirits on most trains.
ScotRail launched a session on the finish of final 12 months, with clients who logged on to the free wifi being requested for a sure or no reply to the query: “Would you be supportive of ScotRail eradicating the everlasting alcohol ban on trains and in stations?”
A second query requested: “If the present complete alcohol ban remained in place, would this influence in your determination to journey with ScotRail for leisure journeys sooner or later?”
Some 28% mentioned it might make them much less inclined to journey, whereas 21% mentioned they’d be extra prone to journey.
One other 51% mentioned it might not have an effect on them both method.
READ MORE: Are you able to drink on ScotRail trains? No, and let’s maintain it that method
Different correspondence launched to The Herald reveals that in addition to public help, others concerned with the nationwide practice firm again an finish to the ban.
An electronic mail from Scott Prentice, Director of Strategic Planning at ScotRail, to somebody at Transport Scotland, mentioned that the “uncertainty and inconsistent enforcement of the ban is now probably the most extensively raised subject at workers security briefs.”
He added: “Commerce Unions, Employees, [British Transport Police] and Transport Focus [the independent watchdog representing the interests of Britain’s rail passengers] all help a return to the earlier coverage” embraced by the agency.
The correspondence additionally mentions a YouGov ballot, however there isn’t any different element and ScotRail declined to remark.
In the end, the choice to maintain or take away the ban lies with the Scottish Authorities.
Scottish Conservatives shadow transport minister Graham Simpson mentioned Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop ought to “revisit the difficulty”.
He mentioned: “This ban was launched throughout the Covid period and, with it having fortunately handed, I feel it’s time to revert again to the pre-pandemic guidelines on alcohol consumption on trains.
“The survey reveals a transparent majority in favour of ending the booze ban. It was launched for good motive throughout the Covid pandemic. “That has now handed so Fiona Hyslop ought to revisit the difficulty. It doesn’t must imply a free for all as exemptions can be in place.
“This view is supported not solely by nearly all of ScotRail passengers however by many within the rail trade.”
READ MORE: Peak rail fares on ScotRail should go completely say unions
A Transport Scotland spokesperson mentioned: “It’s clear a variety of opinions are held by passengers, workers and different events about alcohol on trains.
“Ministers will take time to rigorously contemplate diverging views, in keeping with the broad vary of suggestions made in our latest report on ladies and women security on public transport, earlier than making any determination.
“Till then, the alcohol ban will stay in place.”
