Railcard prices to go up with fares also rising above inflation
A range of transport measures have been announced in the budget and it’s bad news for public transport users across much of the country.
The budget today has seen confirmation that rail fares will rise above inflation from March 2025.
In addition they’ll be a £5 increase to the price of most railcards:
“Subject to an industry proposal, the government will also agree a £5 increase to the price of most rail cards (except the disabled person’s rail card).”
The news follows the scrapping of a £2 bus fare cap in much of the country.
Petrol frozen
Whilst rail and bus fares will rise for many, petrol duty has been frozen including the “temporary” 5p cut.
An extract taken from the budget states “These policies will support the Secretary of State for Transport’s plans for reform, which will increase efficiency and reduce costs, while boosting ridership and revenue and improving performance”.
Not sure how rising bus and rail fares alongside railcards is reducing costs but there you go. Well, not to passengers anyway.
It should also be noted that rising rail fares is based upon the highest level of inflation measured to boot – RPI – rather than the lower CPI rate.
Price discrepancies are likely to grow even further within London between those who have TfL rail modes such as the DLR, tube and Elizabeth line and those who don’t mainly south of the Thames.
Those who rely on National Rail already pay more for identical journeys. That will now possibly increase yet further. National Rail services have also been cut in many areas recently so it’s a double whammy of higher fares and worse services.
These moves appear to continue previous Treasury and Department for Transport ideology seen post-pandemic under the Conservatives when cuts were enforced by government which held back rail growth. Now it’s higher fares.
All doing its bit to encourage driving and increased congestion in cities. Meanwhile TfL restored many services and usership bounced back far quicker.
History
Those of us who’ve been around a while won’t be surprised that Labour are happy to put rail fares up above inflation. In 2006 they awarded the Southeastern franchise to GoVia stipulating RPI+1 per cent fare increases each year.
Back then there was no DLR or Elizabeth line of course in outer south east London. Fortunately there now is to avoid DfT controlled services where ever higher fares and reduced services are to be expected.
Many don’t have that choice though, and for those unlucky souls it’s pay more to get less.
Oh, and still no news on replacing the decrepit old Networkers.
Now the Rail fares are going to go up by next year. But they say and to tell and Help people get out of their Cars and unto Public Transport. And that isint making any sense really.
I think that rail prices are going up every year no matter if you have a railcard or not. I have a railcard which is ideal to travel cheaper and to save 1/3 off rail travel. But I still think that rail prices will continue to go up.
I still think it’s a total joke on seeing rail prices going up every single year. And seeing fares going up as well. That’s just a disgrace to anyone who can’t afford to get cheaper train tickets and having to pay extortionate amount of money just to use the trains or commute on the trains. Why is it so expensive.
People wanted renationalisation and now they got it with higher fares and for the train drivers pay rise
Welcome to the 1970s railways
Government have been setting fares, rolling stock, service levels and wages throughout privatisation.
They just specified it during the franchise process. Who else ensured Southeastern passengers saw higher than average fares every year after the 2006 award?
Franchising and privatisation as seen has been incredibly inefficient and expensive with govt still pulling the strings (badly).
As for driver wages, they were backdated and generally averaged inflation over prior years. It’s convenient to blame them for the decision now of this government to raise fares above inflation in 2025. In reality it’s the Treasury and in turn the DfT seeking short term funds without long term thought. Same as the enforced cuts in recent years from govt.
I don’t know how old you are but the drivers had pay raise but they give nothing back to the railways
I know the 70s when the drivers went on strike because the managers changed their tea bags for a cheaper brand in a Midlands depot it was in the 70s strike strike strikes
And you worried about privatization come back and tell me in five years what the railways like
I was born in 1954 I my big fan of the railways and I’ve seen the good on the bad my first ride train was age two on a steam train to Paddington and many years
List the trains were dirty smelly
Least they work they didn’t break down because of electrical problems the reason the trains in the day didn’t work because of strikes by drivers because they wanted second man for safety in a diesel so they went out on strike never heard of the dead man’s break unions again destroying the railway
And it will go on for years until I left this planet to go to a better place than this s*** we live in now
Welcome back to the 1970’s when we sew higher fares and strikes at every opportunity.
I do.not mind paying more for an Improved reliable service..But in reality we know this is not going to happen despite fare increases.