Rail commuters across the West will benefit from the national freeze for train fares coming into effect from today. For the first time in 30 years, regulated rail fares across England have been frozen – meaning passengers won’t pay a penny more.
Without the freeze, regulated rail fares would have increased by 5.8% today and added to the 60% rise experienced nationwide since 2010. With transport costs making up 14% of household spending, this cost-cutting move will provide real savings for passengers. To fund more passenger improvements like the historic fares freeze, more action is also being taken to tackle fraud and fare-dodging, saving around £40 million annually.
People travelling three days a week between Bath and Bristol are set to save almost £80 each as a result, compared to what they would have otherwise paid, something which the Mayor of the West of England has welcomed.
These changes are part of plans to rebuild a publicly owned railway that the country can rely on and be proud of. The Railways Bill will create Great British Railways (GBR) to run and manage the tracks and trains used every day – ending years of fragmentation, driving up standards for passengers, and making journey easier and better value for money.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
“Rail is a cornerstone of getting the West moving, helping people get around our region and beyond, with five new stations in the works and an ambition for more regular services across our growing regional network. This national fares freeze will be warmly welcomed by commuters across our region – alongside efforts to help tackle the cost of living through West of England initiatives including Kids Go Free on buses during the school holidays, which has already put £1.1 million back into families’ pockets in just nine weeks.”
Announcing the news, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“Affordable, reliable transport links are the gateway to jobs, school, and opportunities. So it’s not right that passengers are being priced out of the routes they should rely on because of endless hikes.
“This freeze – the first since the 90s – will put more money in working people’s pockets. By keeping costs down we are making journeys more affordable for millions of people – putting train travel back into the service of passengers, not profits.”
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said:
“Freezing rail fares for the first time in 30 years will help millions of passengers keep more of their hard-earned cash, with commuters on some routes saving more than £300 a year.
“As we bring the train operating companies into public ownership, and set up Great British Railways, we are determined to build an affordable railway that the public can be proud of and rely on.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:
“In the budget I said we would cut the cost of living. For the first time in 30 years, we have now frozen rail fares, saving hundreds of pounds for passengers.
“Our economic plan is the right one. By cutting the cost of living, cutting national debt, and creating the conditions for growth and investment in all parts of the country we are building a stronger more secure economy.”
Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said:
“Deliberate fare dodging has no place on our railways. It drains much needed revenue and undercuts the trust of passengers who play by the rules.
“Changing refund rules will help stamp out fraud, keeping money in the railway – which will ensure we can deliver an improved railway with passengers at its heart.”
