Train fare rises are always a controversial issue.
The PA news agency answers 10 key questions about this year’s increase.
– What is happening?
Train fares in England and Wales will increase by up to 5.9% on average from Sunday.
– What about Scotland?
ScotRail fares are frozen until the end of March and no decision has been announced about future plans.
– Who determines how much more expensive my train ticket will be?
The cap on regulated fare rises is controlled by the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments.
– What tickets are regulated?
Some season tickets, off-peak return tickets and flexible tickets for travel around major cities.
– How are increases usually calculated?
They are traditionally linked to the previous July’s Retail Price Index measure of inflation, which in 2022 was 12.3%.
– What about this year?
The Westminster and Welsh Government aligned this year’s rises with July’s average earnings growth, which was 5.9%.
– What about unregulated fares?
These fares are expected to rise by a similar amount.
Although the fares are set by operators, their decisions are heavily influenced by governments after they took on financial liabilities.
– Where does the money go?
The Rail Delivery Group says 98p of every £1 spent on train tickets goes towards running and maintaining services.
– Is there any way of avoiding the rise in fares?
Savvy commuters renewed their season tickets in the days before the annual increase.
– Any other tips on limiting the cost of train travel?
Passengers can save money by getting a railcard, travelling off-peak, and booking in advance – although these options are not available for many journeys, particularly those made by commuters.
