Rail fares in England are set to rise by almost 6% from 5 March next year, the Government has announced.
Regulated rail fares, including season tickets and most commuter journeys, usually rise each January based on the annual increase in the Retail Price Index (RPI) measured the previous July.
This year due to the extreme levels of inflation - 12.3% in July - ministers have frozen fares for January and February and capped the increase at 5.9% – 6.4 percentage points below July 2022’s RPI.
However, Labour's shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh called the price hike 'savage' and said it represented 'a sick joke for millions reliant on crumbling services'.
A statement from the Department for Transport said the Government had aligned the increase to average earnings growth instead of RPI.
This was to 'ensure it’s easier on family finances while not overburdening taxpayers who have subsidised the running of the railways to the tune of £31bn since the pandemic'.
Transport secretary Mark Harper said: 'This is the biggest ever government intervention in rail fares. I’m capping the rise well below inflation to help reduce the impact on passengers.
'This is a fair balance between the passengers who use our trains and the taxpayers who help pay for them.'
Around 45% of all rail fares are regulated by the price cap. Regulated fares include season tickets on most commuter journeys, some off-peak return tickets on long distance journeys, and anytime tickets around major cities.
Other fares, including first class and advance tickets, are not regulated by the price cap. ‘Unregulated’ fares are set by operators, on a commercial basis, to optimise demand and revenue.
In England, the price cap is regulated by the secretary of state. In Wales and Scotland, it is set by the Welsh and Scottish governments though Wales usually follows the price rise set in England.
Register now for full access
Register just once to get unrestricted, real-time coverage of the issues and challenges facing UK transport and highways engineers.
Full website content includes the latest news, exclusive commentary from leading industry figures and detailed topical analysis of the highways, transportation, environment and place-shaping sectors.
Use the link below to register your details for full, free access.
Already a registered? Login
