Budget 2024: Rail fares in England and railcard costs to increase


The UK government has announced that regulated train fares in England will increase by 4.6% in the upcoming year. The increase is set to occur from March 2nd, 2025, and it is reported that the price of most railcards will rise by £5. However, the government notes that the cost of disabled railcards will remain the same. Rail fares in Wales and Scotland will not have the same price increase, as they are locally regulated.

Regulated fares usually include season tickets, off-peak return tickets, and flexible tickets for travel in and around major cities. However, train operators can still alter prices for unregulated fares, but they generally apply a similar percentage increase. The government stated that the rail fare increase is one percentage point above July’s inflation rate.

Meanwhile, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a number of tax increases that aim to address public spending on schools and the NHS, worth £40bn. The Campaign for Better Transport said that increasing rail fares above the inflation rate and higher costs for railcards is disappointing for individuals who rely on public transportation, particularly those on low incomes. The group urges authorities to make public transportation a more affordable and attractive choice, rather than raising prices.

Rail Partners, an organization representing private rail companies, argued that the government’s priority should be to grow passenger numbers, not increase fares for current passengers. The CEO of Rail Partners, Andy Bagnall, said that the government should set train fares at a level that will encourage future riders and make the sector financially sustainable in the long term.

In summary, commuters in England can expect regulated train fares to increase by 4.6% next year. However, the disabled railcards’ cost will remain the same, and rail fares in Wales and Scotland will not be affected. The government’s priority has raised concerns by campaigning groups, highlighting that lowering fares and increasing public transportation affordability must be the new focus, rather than raising prices for travel

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