LONDON — Train fares in England will be frozen for the first time in 30 years, the British government announced on Sunday, in a move it said would address the cost of living and aid economic growth.
“We all want to see cheaper rail travel, so we’re freezing fares to help millions of passengers save money,” Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said in a joint press release with Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves. “Commuters on more expensive routes will save more than £300 per year [$393], meaning they will keep more of their hard-earned cash. This is part of our wider plans to rebuild Great British Railways the public can be proud of and rely on.” The government says transportation costs make up 14% of household spending.
UK newspaper The Guardian had previously reported that fares were expected to rise by 5.8% in 2026.
Great British Railways is the government-backed holding company under development that will nationalize most passenger operations and infrastructure manager Network Rail, reversing elements of the privatization of British Railways in 1996 [see “British rail reorganization …,” Trains.com, Feb. 18, 2025]. While private operators can still raise fares for other types of tickets, all those companies are intended to be back under government control by the end of 2027.
The government announcement comes ahead of announcement of next year’s budget, set for Wednesday, Nov. 26.
The BBC reports the freeze will be in place until March 2027, and applies to regulated fares, such as season passes, peak trips for commuters, and off-peak journeys. While the government regulates about 45% of fares in England, Scotland, and Wales, the freeze will apply only in England, and and applies only to operations by companies based in England. In recent years, the national broadcaster reports, increases have taken place in March, and have usually been based on the increases in the retail price index the previous July, plus 1%.
