The highest increases in rail fares in England and Wales for nine years have come into effect.
The 3.8 per cent rise in regulated fares across the two UK nations is the steepest increase since January 2013 and will add to the current soaring inflation rate. The increase was announced in December but the higher ticket prices were only introduced on Tuesday (1 March).
The fare rises mean that an annual season ticket from Brighton to London will go up by £194 to £5,302, or from Liverpool to Manchester by £105 to £2,865, and from Neath to Cardiff in Wales by £70 to £1,922.
The Department for Transport defended the fare rises: “We have protected passengers by delaying these fare rises by two months and, even then, opting for a figure well below current inflation rates.
“However, we must now look to recoup some of the £14 billion which was spent to keep vital services running throughout the pandemic in a way that is fair for all taxpayers.
“By striking this balance, we will be able to encourage people back on to trains while funding the necessary improvements and unprecedented investment that will benefit all those who use our railways.”
Figures from the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators, show that while leisure travel has returned to pre-pandemic traffic on some routes, business travel remains at only 30 per cent of previous levels, while commuting is still down by 50 per cent.
The group added: “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.”
But Bruce Williamson, from campaign group Railfuture, called for the UK government to freeze rail fares in the face of rapidly rising inflation.
“They could take this opportunity not just to freeze fares, just like they’ve done with fuel duty, but to reform our insanely complex fares structure,” he said.
“Transparent, affordable fares would not only encourage a return to rail but would give a boost to the economy and promote green environmentally-friendly travel.”