Sun, 02 Mar 2025

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 Rail fares rise by 4.6% in England and Wales

The government says fares must go up so it can fund investment, but admits passengers are frustrated by services.

* Regulated rail fares in England and Wales have increased by 4.6%
* The price of most railcards has risen by £5
* Government claims fare rises are necessary for investment in the rail system, but admits passengers are "frustrated" by delays and cancellations
* Renationalisation of three rail operators is planned, but ticket prices are unlikely to fall as a result
* Campaign for Better Transport criticises the increase, saying it will add to the pressure on households already struggling with high costs
* Some off-peak returns and flexible tickets on long-distance journeys will also rise in price
* Unregulated fares set by train operators tend to increase by a similar amount
* The 4.6% rise only applies to travel in England and Wales, while rail fares in Scotland are set to increase by 3.8%
* A passenger from Kent said he would rather drive than pay over £400 for a family ticket
* Some passengers believe prices are too high for families and the experience of cramped carriages is "absolutely appalling"
* Campaign group says high ticket prices are the main barrier to more people using trains, and calls on the government to bring down fares as part of rail reforms
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