LONDON — British railway fares will be frozen nationwide for the first time in three decades, with the chancellor and the transport secretary unveiling a budget move that they said maintains prices on season tickets, peak return fares for commuters, and off-peak returns between major cities.
Officials say the freeze should save many regular travelers hundreds of pounds over the next year. Commuters on the most expensive routes could keep more than £300 in their pockets, politicians said.
With transport accounting for roughly 14% of typical household spending, holding rail prices flat is intended to deliver immediate relief, bolster town-center footfall and dampen inflation by restraining a major everyday cost.
Proponents said the measure aligns with the government’s wider rail reform agenda, including the creation of the publicly owned Great British Railways to simplify the system and improve reliability. Alongside the fare freeze, ministers highlighted plans to modernize ticketing with tap-in/tap-out and digital options, as well as investing in fast onboard Wi-Fi.
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