Rail fares hike above inflation announced
Rail passengers will be hit by an above -inflation fares rise for the first time in eight years, the Department for Transport (DFT) has announced.
Ticket prices will increase by an average of 2.6 p er cent from 1 March next year, which is July's Retail Prices Index (RPI) measure of inflation plus 1 per cent.
The increase will apply to all cross-b order operators except Caledonian Sleeper which along with Scot rail has its fare increases decided by Transport Scotland
Successive governments have linked fare rises to RPI since January 2014, but the DFT said this policy has been axed due to the "unprecedented taxpayer support" handed to the rail industry over the past 12 months.
Meanwhile, the department has written to all train operators to begin immediate work on developing flexible season tickets, allowing people who travel two or three days a week to save money compared with buying daily tickets. Firms have been told these must be introduced across England by the end of next year.
The 2.6 p er cent figure announced by the department relates to regulated fares, which makeup around half of fares and include season tickets on most commuter routes.
An average increase of 2.6 per cent across all fares will be the lowest since 2017.
Transport Scotland said no decision had been made over Scotrail fares.
A spokesperson said: "We are currently considering our position on the usual January fares increases and will confirm this in the very near future."
The Ca le do nian Sleep er service' s fares normally remain frozen.