Rail fares to rise by 3.8%

RAIL fares are to rise by 3.8% in March, which the Government says is below the current retail price inflation of 7.1%. Before the pandemic, fares were raised in January each year by a formula based on the RPI rate of the previous July, six months before. The delay to March this year is said to give passengers more time to purchase flexible and season tickets at the existing rate. Last year, fares rose by 2.6% in March. Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: “Capping rail fares in line with inflation while tying it to the July RPI strikes a fair balance, ensuring we can continue to invest record amounts into a more modern, reliable railway.” Andy Bagnall, director general of the Rail Delivery Group, said: “The Government’s decision to hold fares down in line with July’s inflation is welcome compared to last year’s above inflation increase and the rate of inflation right now. It is important that fares are set at a level that will encourage more people to travel by train in the future, helping to support a clean and fair recovery from the pandemic.”