Rail fares rise by 4.6% in England and Wales

Regulated rail fares in England and Wales have risen by 4.6%, with the prices of most railcards also increasing by £5. This price hike affects most season tickets, including commuter routes, where prices can reach thousands of pounds. Some off-peak return tickets for long-distance travel, as well as flexible tickets within and around cities, will also see increases.

The UK government states that fare increases are necessary to invest in the railway system. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander acknowledged that passengers are "frustrated" by delays and cancellations. While the government plans to renationalize three rail operators this year, this is not expected to lower fares. Train operators can set their own non-regulated fares, but these often increase by similar amounts to regulated fares, including on lines that have already been renationalized.

The Campaign for Better Transport organization said the latest fare increases "inflict further pain on households struggling with the cost of living" and called for fares to be reduced. The organization also pointed out that on 40 commuter routes into London, three routes will see annual season tickets costing over £6,000 for the first time, with another ten already exceeding this price. Annual season tickets from Canterbury and Southampton to London will increase by over £300, reaching £7,100 and £7,477 respectively.

Adrian Ross, 50, from Sittingbourne in Kent, said that raising rail fares when they are already "outrageously expensive" is untenable. For him, his wife, and two daughters, driving from Kent to visit relatives in Newcastle costs no more than £100 in fuel, whereas booking train tickets close to the departure date could cost over £400. Celia Downey, 68, from Bristol, who regularly uses trains for commuting and leisure, said she will continue to do so "whatever the price" because "I can work on the train, and I believe it's the responsible thing to do for the environment."

The government plans to renationalize railway companies as their contracts expire or reach a break point. Last year, the government stated that South Western Railway would be renationalized in May 2025, C2C in July 2025, and Greater Anglia in the autumn of 2025. It is establishing a new independent body, Great British Railways (GBR), to take over service contracts currently held by private companies, which will expire in the coming years.