Millions of rail passengers across England are beginning to feel the benefit of a landmark rail fare freeze, the first in 30 years, as the government moves to halt decades

of above-inflation price rises and ease cost-of-living pressures.

From this week, regulated rail fares – including season tickets, peak commuter returns and off-peak travel between major cities – have been frozen, covering more than a billion passenger journeys each year. The decision is expected to save rail users around £600 million in 2026/27, putting hundreds of pounds back into the pockets of regular commuters.

For years, rail fares climbed steadily, rising by around 60% between 2010 and 2024. Without intervention, prices were due to increase by a further 5.8% this year. Instead, the government has chosen to “step off the escalator” of automatic rises, marking a significant shift in rail policy.

The savings are particularly noticeable for commuters on busy routes. A typical passenger travelling three days a week using flexi-season tickets will save around £315 a year travelling from Milton Keynes to London, £173 from Woking to London, and £57 from Bradford to Leeds. With transport accounting for roughly 14% of household spending, ministers say the freeze offers meaningful relief at a time when many families are under financial strain.

The move sits alongside the extension of the £3 bus fare cap, reinforcing the government’s broader effort to reduce everyday travel costs and support local economies by keeping town centres accessible to workers and shoppers.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Affordable, reliable transport links are the gateway to jobs, school, and opportunities. So it’s not right that passengers are being priced out of the routes they should rely on because of endless hikes.  

This freeze – the first since the 90s – will put more money in working people’s pockets. By keeping costs down we are making journeys more affordable for millions of people - putting train travel back into the service of passengers, not profits”.

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: "Freezing rail fares for the first time in 30 years will help millions of passengers keep more of their hard-earned cash, with commuters on some routes saving more than £300 a year. 

As we bring the train operating companies into public ownership, and set up Great British Railways, we are determined to build an affordable railway that the public can be proud of and rely on”.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:  “In the budget I said we would cut the cost of living. For the first time in 30 years, we have now frozen rail fares, saving hundreds of pounds for passengers. 

Our economic plan is the right one. By cutting the cost of living, cutting national debt, and creating the conditions for growth and investment in all parts of the country we are building a stronger more secure economy”.

Alongside the fares freeze, the government is also tightening ticket refund rules to tackle fraud and fare-dodging. From 1 April, refunds will only be available for unused tickets claimed before travel, a move expected to save around £40 million a year and keep more money within the rail system.

Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said: “Deliberate fare dodging has no place on our railways. It drains much needed revenue and undercuts the trust of passengers who play by the rules.

Changing refund rules will help stamp out fraud, keeping money in the railway – which will ensure we can deliver an improved railway with passengers at its heart”.

These measures form part of wider reforms set out in the Railways Bill, which will establish Great British Railways, a new publicly owned body bringing track and train operations under one umbrella. The organisation will be accountable to passengers and taxpayers, with plans for simpler fares, modern ticketing and a single website and app offering fee-free ticket purchases and real-time journey information.

Ministers say the aim is clear: a more reliable, affordable railway that works for passengers first – and one the country can once again be proud of. Photo by TheFrog001, Wikimedia commons.