ScotRail and Edinburgh Trams shamed for not accepting £1 RBS notes

ScotRail and Edinburgh Trams have apologised for the error. Picture: TSPLScotRail and Edinburgh Trams have apologised for the error. Picture: TSPL
ScotRail and Edinburgh Trams have apologised for the error. Picture: TSPL
ScotRail and Edinburgh Trams have apologised to a passenger after refusing to accept Royal Bank of Scotland £1 notes to pay for tickets.

A visiting bank note collector was surprised to have the money rejected during two trips to Scotland.

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RBS has been the only Scottish bank to issue the notes since 1989, but few are in circulation and they are rarely seen.

Its £1 notes are still legal currency but are normally only available from branches. RBS said they remained popular for gifts and weddings.

Surrey-based Gareth David said he made a point of using £1 notes when in Scotland.

However, booking office staff would not take them at ­Mallaig station last month.

That followed the notes being refused by Edinburgh Trams in February last year.

Mr David said: “I am a regular visitor to Scotland, and when I am in the capital I always visit the St Andrew Square branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland to withdraw some £1 notes for spending during my stay.

“As a banknote collector, I very much enjoy having the chance to spend £1 notes – something we have not be able to do in England for the past 30 years.

“The great majority of retailers are fascinated to see a £1 note, and for many it is the highlight of their day and they say they will save the notes to show their family and friends.

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“I am on what increasingly feels like a one-man crusade to keep the £1 note in circulation.

“It was therefore very disappointing to encounter a number of people – including the ScotRail booking office at Mallaig – who flatly refused to accept the £1 notes, despite my polite insistence they remained in circulation and were still issued by RBS.

“Sadly, there seem precious few people left who will ask for the £1 notes in an RBS branch, so awareness of their remaining legal currency falls.”

Mr David complained to ScotRail, which told The Scotsman: “We are sorry to the customer the £1 note was not accepted. This was an error.

“We accept and bank any genuine Scottish notes and we have issued a reminder to all relevant staff.”

A spokesperson for Edinburgh Trams, who also apologised, said: “We’re a £1 note-friendly tramway, therefore we would accept notes issued by RBS. However, the notes are rarely seen in cash transaction, so our customers may find our staff a little more inquisitive than normal.”