Liberal Democrat London spokesman Luke Taylor is urging Andy Burnham to rule out an inflation-busting rise of more than 4% in rail fares, warning that such a move would hit Londoners hard and undermine economic growth.
Regulated train fares in England, which include commuter tickets, have traditionally been linked to July's inflation rate, or possibly slightly higher. The system has meant that rail fares have risen almost every year for passengers often suffering delays, disruption and overcrowding.
Government Leaves Option Open for 2027 Rise
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander froze fares this year. But the Department for Transport has left open the possibility of a rise in 2027, saying: "We are looking at all options carefully."
The cap on regulated fares in 2025, of 4.6%, was one percentage point above Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation in July of the previous year. RPI inflation this July was 3.2%, according to the Office for National Statistics. So, if the formula used in 2025 was applied for next year it could mean ticket prices rising by 4.2%.
Taylor Warns Against Undermining Growth
Mr Taylor urged Mr Burnham to swiftly rule out such a move to boost economic growth. "The Government must announce an extension of the fare freeze now so that Londoners have the reassurance they'll be able to afford to choose rail travel over less sustainable, less productive alternatives like driving," he told The Standard.
"Wages are growing only marginally ahead of inflation so any fares hike would siphon a lot of air out of that breathing room for millions of Londoners. It would also undermine the confidence we need to pull our city, and our country out of this morass."
Mr Burnham has already announced a £2 cap on bus fares outside London as he seeks to help millions of people with the cost of living. The Prime Minister has signalled that he may raise taxes on the better off, which would hit the capital hardest, to ease the cost of living for less well off families and fund his plans to rebalance Britain's economy.
Impact on Commuters and Possible Savings
Mr Taylor stressed: "London cannot be left behind when it comes to Andy Burnham's priorities. London is the economic engine of our country, and to deliver growth in every postcode in our country, it is essential that London is supported to play our part."
The new Government may decide to impose another freeze or limited rise in rail fares. But a 4.2% increase would mean an annual season ticket from Brighton to London going up by £219 to £5,423. A flexi ticket for travel two days per week over a year from Leeds to Manchester would increase by £151.35 to £3,754.95.
About 45% of fares on Britain's railways are regulated by the Westminster, Scottish and Welsh governments. They include season tickets on most commuter journeys, some off-peak return tickets on long-distance routes, and flexible tickets for travel around major cities. Unregulated fares are set by operators, but rises in these are expected to be similar.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "We are working to make transport affordable for everyone. The rail fares freeze is giving millions of people breathing space on their travel costs and is expected to save passengers on some of the busiest routes more than £300 a year. No decision has been made on fares after the freeze ends, and we are looking at all options carefully."
