2 days ago
Rail fares on track for inflation-busting increase
Rail fares in England are on track to surge next year after inflation rose at a faster pace than expected.
Train passengers are expected to see a 5.8pc increase in ticket prices from April, following the latest data from the Office for National Statistics.
Official figures showed the retail price index (RPI) rose to 4.8pc in July. Increases in train fares are traditionally calculated using July's RPI figure plus one percentage point.
The Government has not confirmed how it will determine the cap on regulated fare rises in 2026, but this year's 4.6pc hike was equal to July 2024's RPI figure plus one percentage point.
If that formula is used to set next year's fare increase, the cost of train travel will jump by 5.8pc. It would mean a typical annual rail pass from Woking to London would rise by £247 to £4,507, with a season ticket from York to Leeds climbing by £176 to £3,204.
Ben Plowden, chief executive of lobby group Campaign for Better Transport, said: 'Today's inflation figure could mean a big fare rise for rail passengers next year, especially if the Government decides to go with an above-inflation increase like we saw this year.
'With the railways now moving under public control, the fundamental question for the Government is how to use its role in setting fares policy to deliver a more affordable rail network and encourage more people to travel on it.
'Next year's annual rise represents the first real opportunity for the Government to show passengers – both current and future – just how it plans to do this.'
A 5.8pc jump in rail fares would represent another inflation-busting increase in the cost of commuting for passengers.
The official measure of inflation, the consumer price index, rose to 3.8pc in July.
Poor punctuality
It comes at a time when train punctuality in Britain is at its lowest level in more than five years.
Office of Rail and Road figures show trains in Britain reached 66.7pc of scheduled stops within a minute of the timetable in the year to July 19.
That is the worst performance since May 2020, during the height of the first Covid lockdown.
The Department for Transport (DfT) announced that an update on changes to regulated fares will be provided later this year.
A DfT spokesman 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 (GBR), 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.'
