Overview
- The freeze covers season tickets, peak returns for commuters and off‑peak returns between major cities, affecting more than a billion journeys in 2026.
- Government examples show flexi‑season commuters saving about £315 from Milton Keynes to London, £173 from Woking to London and £57 from Bradford to Leeds.
- Labour sources estimate passengers will save roughly £600 million in 2026–27, with final fiscal details due in Wednesday’s Budget.
- The policy applies to services run by English operators; Scotland and Wales make their own decisions, and unregulated fares such as advance or first‑class may still change.
- Ministers tied the move to the Railways Bill and the creation of Great British Railways, promising tap‑in/tap‑out and digital ticketing upgrades.