Commuters on the more expensive routes will save more than £300 a year
Rail fares are to be frozen for the first time in 30 years, although not all of them, the Government has announced. The move is expected to save millions of rail travellers hundreds of pounds off season tickets, peak and off-peak returns between major cities. Commuters on the more expensive routes will save more than £300 a year.
The changes are part of the Government’s plans to rebuild a publicly owned Great British Railways. It is hoped the plans will revolutionise the railways, with tap in tap out and digital ticketing, alongside investing in superfast Wi-Fi.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “Next week at the Budget I’ll set out the fair choices to deliver on the country’s priorities to cut NHS waiting lists, cut national debt and cut the cost of living.
“That’s why we’re choosing to freeze rail fares for the first time in 30 years, which will ease the pressure on household finances and make travelling to work, school or to visit friends and family that bit easier.”
Ministers said a typical commuter travelling to work three days a week using flexi-season tickets will save £315 a year travelling from Milton Keynes to London, £173 travelling from Woking to London and £57 from Bradford to Leeds.
But the freeze doesn’t apply to all kinds of ticket, rather it will apply to all regulated fares, including seasons, peak returns for commuters and off-peak returns between major cities. Train operators are free to set prices for unregulated fares, but they typically rise by similar amounts.
It is expected that the fare cap will benefit more than a billion passenger journeys, say the Government. The move has been welcomed by rail unions and passenger groups.
Eddie Dempsey, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said: “This freeze is a welcome first step towards better value fares for passengers and shows that Government plans for public ownership of the railways can deliver real tangible benefits for passengers.
“More affordable fares will encourage greater use of public transport, supporting jobs, giving a shot in the arm to local economies and helping to improve the environment.
“As more passengers return to the railway, it is worth remembering that a well-staffed network with ticket office workers on hand to help people find the best and most affordable tickets, is the best way forward for the rail industry.”
Alex Robertson, chief executive of passenger watchdog Transport Focus said: “Freezing fares will be extremely welcome news for rail passengers who consistently tell us value for money is their highest priority, alongside trains running on time. It should also make it more attractive for people to use the train more often or for the first time.
The Conservatives have welcomed the freeze but said the Government was “late to the platform”. Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden said: “In Government, the Conservatives kept fares on the right track with below-inflation rises and consistently called for no further hikes to protect hard-working commuters.”
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