Overview
- Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed the freeze in the Autumn Budget, holding prices for season tickets and many peak and off‑peak returns, with ministers saying some commuters on costly routes will save more than £300 a year.
- Transport for London services are not included, and City Hall has yet to set Tube and Travelcard prices, raising concerns that London passengers could still face higher costs through fares or pay‑as‑you‑go caps.
- Industry analysts warn operators may increase unregulated fares, which account for roughly 55% of sales, citing LNER’s ‘simpler fares’ pilot that removed off‑peak options and led to higher prices on some journeys.
- North East mayor Kim McGuinness has asked the government to extend support to the Tyne and Wear Metro as Nexus warns of a £5m deficit and reviews local fare plans after increases earlier this year.
- Ministers frame the freeze as part of rebuilding Great British Railways and modernising ticketing, a move welcomed by unions and passenger groups even as calls grow for broader reform of the fares system.