Train passengers and rail users say a potential 5.5% rise in England’s train fares next year is “outrageous”. Train passengers and rail users say a potential 5.5% rise in England’s train fares next year is “outrageous”. Train passengers and rail users say a potential 5.5% rise in England’s train fares next year is “outrageous”.

Rail campaigners say potential 5.5 per cent fares rise would be “ripping off” passengers. Train passengers and rail users say a potential 5.5% rise in England’s train fares next year is “outrageous”.

July’s Retail Prices Index (RPI) measure of inflation will be announced on Wednesday. The Labour Party government has not confirmed how it will determine the cap in regulated fare rises for 2026, but this year’s 4.6% hike was one percentage point above RPI in July 2024.

Bruce Williamson, spokesman for pressure group Railfuture, said “it would be outrageous” if fares rose by that much. He said: “What would be the justification for jacking up fares above inflation? There isn’t any.

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“It’s ripping off the customer, driving people off the trains and onto our congested road network, which is in no-one’s interest.”

Mr Williamson said: “One would hope that there would be some efficiency savings and economies of scale that you get from having a more integrated railway.

“But of course, I strongly suspect that if there are any savings to be had, they’d be swallowed up by the Treasury and not passed back to the passengers, which I think is wrong.”

Ben Plowden, chief executive of lobby group Campaign for Better Transport, said: “Rising fares are not just burdening passengers, they are putting people off rail travel.

“Our survey found that 71% of people would be more likely to take the train if fares were cheaper.

“Public support for nationalisation plummets if fares continue to rise, so as the Government progresses plans for Great British Railways (GBR), it must take the opportunity to reform fares and make rail travel more affordable.”

A DfT spokesperson said: “The Transport Secretary has made clear her number one priority is getting the railways back to a place where people can rely on them.

“The Government is putting passengers at the heart of its plans for public ownership and Great British Railways, delivering the services they deserve and driving growth.

“No decisions have been made on next year’s rail fares but our aim is that prices balance affordability for both passengers and taxpayers.”