Calls for a rail fare freeze for 2024

15 August 2023

“Any rise in rail fares will hit passengers hard and do nothing to get people back on-board trains. The Government should instead freeze rail fares – as they have done with fuel duty – until the long-promised ticketing reform takes place.”

Regulated rail fares, including standard day returns, season tickets and most commuter fares, make up almost half (45 per cent) of all fares and increases are set by the Government. Usually fares rise by the previous July’s RPI figure but in 2022, to avoid a double-digit fare rise, the Government used the average earnings growth rate instead and postponed the rise until 5 March (instead of January 2023).

This meant fares rose by 5.9 per cent, rather than 12.3 per cent (July 2022’s RPI figure), but this was still the highest rise in a decade (fares rose at six per cent in 2012).

Even if the Government uses a similar method to calculate next year’s rail fare rise, it is likely that passengers will still be subjected to a large fare hike (earnings growth rate in June was 7.8 per cent, the highest for two decades).

Out of 40 popular commuter routes into London, a similar rise to this year (5.9%) would see 27 season tickets go above £5,000 next year, and ten pass the £6,000 mark with an annual season ticket from Southampton to London costing over £7,000 (£7,218).

Campaign for Better Transport is calling for a fare freeze for 2024 in recognition of the burden high fares place on rail passengers and to bring rail passengers in line with car drivers who benefitted from a 13^th consecutive year of frozen fuel duty in this year’s Budget.

ENDS

See example 2024 season ticket costs into London

See example 2024 season ticket costs into regional cities

For further information please contact the press office on 07984 773 468 (calls only no texts) or communications@bettertransport.org.uk.

Notes to Editors

• In April to June 2023, annual growth in regular pay (excluding bonuses) was 7.8%; this is the highest regular annual growth rate since comparable records began in 2001.

*Based on a 5.9% increase as in 2023 **Based on the most recent earnings growth rate (as used for 2023 rise)

Prices are for the cheapest available 12 month season ticket into London terminals on any route permitted (where available) excluding use on high speed services according to National Rail Enquiries

• The 13-year long fuel duty freeze has meant a real terms tax cut for motorists which has benefitted the top fifth of earners twice as much as the bottom fifth: 12% of the benefits go to the poorest fifth, while 26% go to the richest.
• The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, published in May 2021, promised a fundamental reorganisation of the rail sector and a ‘root and branch’ reform of the ticketing system’ to provide a better deal for rail passengers. The reform of the ticketing system has yet to take place.
• Campaign for Better Transport was founded as Transport 2000 on 6 February 1973. 2023 marks its 50^th year of campaigning for all communities to have access to high quality, sustainable transport that meets their needs, improves quality of life and protects the environment. Campaign for Better Transport Charitable Trust is a registered charity (1101929) which operates in England and Wales.