Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced a freeze on regulated rail fares in England for the first time in 30 years, as part of the autumn Budget. The move applies to season tickets in the London area, anytime tickets around major cities, and many off-peak return tickets on long-distance journeys. Ministers say it will save millions of passengers hundreds of pounds.
However, more than half of fares are unregulated, meaning some tickets could still rise. The freeze contrasts with the usual annual increase linked to the retail price index, which would have been 4.8 per cent. Transport Focus chief executive Alex Robertson called it “extremely welcome news”, while Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan praised the Labour government for helping commuters after years of Tory fare hikes.
Despite the freeze, critics note that the government has not reformed the complex rail fares system. Simon Calder, travel correspondent for The Independent, argues that the freeze is a missed opportunity for radical change, such as a half-price national railcard. Meanwhile, fuel duty was frozen again, costing £2.4bn next year, which Calder says disappoints those hoping for a shift from road to rail.
