Overview
- The move covers regulated tickets only, including season tickets, peak commuter returns and off-peak returns between major cities, affecting more than a billion journeys next year.
- Ministers cite example annual savings for flexi-season commuters of £315 from Milton Keynes to London, £173 from Woking to London and £57 from Bradford to Leeds, with pricier routes saving over £300.
- Unregulated fares, such as advance tickets and first-class, remain at operators’ discretion and are not included in the freeze.
- Passenger watchdogs and rail unions welcomed the decision, saying it improves affordability and could encourage greater use of public transport.
- The policy is presented alongside plans to establish Great British Railways and modernise ticketing with tap-in/tap-out, digital tickets and faster Wi‑Fi, with Labour estimating around £600m in total passenger savings.