Rail fares in England set to rise by 4.6 per cent in 2025

Rail fares in England are set to rise by an inflation-busting 4.6 per cent in 2025. Rail fares will go up by 4.6% next March, the government disclosed alongside the budget – meaning they will rise above inflation for only the second time in 12 years.

Meanwhile, the cost of most railcards will rise by £5, or almost 17%. In documents published alongside the budget, the Treasury said: “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, laying the groundwork for the transition to Great British Railways.”

Paul Tuohy from Campaign for Better Transport said: “Raising rail fares above inflation and hiking the cost of railcards is a kick in the teeth for people who rely on public transport, especially those on low income. Doing this at the same time as keeping fuel duty frozen sends entirely the wrong message. To tackle air pollution, congestion and climate change, we need to make public transport the attractive, affordable choice.”

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Andy Bagnall, the chief executive of Rail Partners, representing private train operators, said: “Government should set fares at a level that will ultimately encourage more people to travel by train … The focus must be on growing passenger numbers, not making current passengers pay more.”

It comes as The Transpennine railway route upgrade between York, Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester is secured under Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ first Budget, she has announced. Ms Reeves said the money would deliver “fully electric local and regional services between Manchester and Stalybridge by the end of this year, with a further electrification of services between Church Fenton and York by 2026 to help grow our economy across the North of England, with faster and more reliable services”.

The Chancellor continued: “We will deliver East-West Rail to drive growth between Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge, with the first services running between Oxford, Bletchley and Milton Keynes next year and trains between Oxford and Bedford running by 2030.

“We are delivering railway schemes which improve journeys for people across our country, including upgrades at Bradford Forster Square, improving capacity at Manchester Victoria, and electrifying the Wigan-Bolton line.”