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| Rail fares in England could rise by ‘outrageous’ 5.6% next year | |
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| Campaigners say passengers may be priced off trains as July inflation figure is likely to push up ticket prices | Campaigners say passengers may be priced off trains as July inflation figure is likely to push up ticket prices |
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| Train fares in England could rise by as much as 5.6% next year, as campaigners said passengers could be priced off the railway. | Train fares in England could rise by as much as 5.6% next year, as campaigners said passengers could be priced off the railway. |
| Increases in train ticket prices are calculated using the inflation reading for July, which will be announced on Wednesday. | Increases in train ticket prices are calculated using the inflation reading for July, which will be announced on Wednesday. |
| The retail prices index – the measure of inflation used for the calculations – will hit 4.6% in July, according to consensus forecasts by City economists. | The retail prices index – the measure of inflation used for the calculations – will hit 4.6% in July, according to consensus forecasts by City economists. |
| Regulated fares, which account for about half of rail journeys, would rise by 5.6% in 2026 if the increase follows the same pattern as last year. Although the government has not yet confirmed how it will calculate fares for 2026, they last rose by 4.6% in March, which was one percentage point above the RPI reading from July 2024. | Regulated fares, which account for about half of rail journeys, would rise by 5.6% in 2026 if the increase follows the same pattern as last year. Although the government has not yet confirmed how it will calculate fares for 2026, they last rose by 4.6% in March, which was one percentage point above the RPI reading from July 2024. |
| Bruce Williamson, a spokesperson for the campaign group Railfuture, said such an increase would be “outrageous”. | Bruce Williamson, a spokesperson for the campaign group Railfuture, said such an increase would be “outrageous”. |
| “What would be the justification for jacking up fares above inflation? There isn’t any,” he said. | “What would be the justification for jacking up fares above inflation? There isn’t any,” he said. |
| “It’s ripping off the customer, driving people off the trains and on to our congested road network, which is in no one’s interest.” | “It’s ripping off the customer, driving people off the trains and on to our congested road network, which is in no one’s interest.” |
| The government is working on plans to bring rail services into public ownership, and Williamson said he would support a government freeze on fares. | The government is working on plans to bring rail services into public ownership, and Williamson said he would support a government freeze on fares. |
| “One would hope that there would be some efficiency savings and economies of scale that you get from having a more integrated railway,” he said. | “One would hope that there would be some efficiency savings and economies of scale that you get from having a more integrated railway,” he said. |
| “But of course, I strongly suspect that if there are any savings to be had, they’d be swallowed up by the Treasury and not passed back to the passengers, which I think is wrong.” | “But of course, I strongly suspect that if there are any savings to be had, they’d be swallowed up by the Treasury and not passed back to the passengers, which I think is wrong.” |
| Almost half of rail fares in England are se directly by Westminster. The devolved Scottish and Welsh governments usually cap fares at a similar level. Regulated fares include season tickets on most commuter journeys, off-peak returns on long-distance routes and flexible tickets for urban rail. | Almost half of rail fares in England are se directly by Westminster. The devolved Scottish and Welsh governments usually cap fares at a similar level. Regulated fares include season tickets on most commuter journeys, off-peak returns on long-distance routes and flexible tickets for urban rail. |
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| The prospect of higher travel costs comes amid a broader rise in the cost of living. Economists expect that the consumer price index, the headline measure for inflation, will be 3.7% in July, up from 3.6% in June. | The prospect of higher travel costs comes amid a broader rise in the cost of living. Economists expect that the consumer price index, the headline measure for inflation, will be 3.7% in July, up from 3.6% in June. |
| The government is expected to provide an update on changes to regulated fares later this year. | The government is expected to provide an update on changes to regulated fares later this year. |
| A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “The transport secretary has made clear her number one priority is getting the railways back to a place where people can rely on them. | A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “The transport secretary has made clear her number one priority is getting the railways back to a place where people can rely on them. |
| “The government is putting passengers at the heart of its plans for public ownership and Great British Railways, delivering the services they deserve and driving growth. | “The government is putting passengers at the heart of its plans for public ownership and Great British Railways, delivering the services they deserve and driving growth. |
| “No decisions have been made on next year’s rail fares but our aim is that prices balance affordability for both passengers and taxpayers.” | “No decisions have been made on next year’s rail fares but our aim is that prices balance affordability for both passengers and taxpayers.” |