Rail fares rose by 5.1% in Great Britain over past year, data shows. Rail fares rose by 5.1% in Great Britain over past year, data shows. Rail fares rose by 5.1% in Great Britain over past year, data shows.

Rail users have been warned they have been paying 5.1 per cent more on their train fares and rail tickets in the past 12 months. Rail fares rose by 5.1% in Great Britain over past year, data shows.

And cheaper advance fares are shown to have increased by almost double the rate of inflation. Unregulated long-distance advance fares went up by 5.9 per cent, ORR figures show, while overall fares across Great Britain increased by 5.1% in 2025.

That isn compared with an inflation rate of 3.2% in the year to March, as measured by the retail prices index. Ben Plowden, the chief executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said: “Rising rail fares are putting people off using the railways and making rail travel unaffordable.

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“The government must make fares and ticketing reforms a priority under Great British Railways to help tackle inflation-busting fare rises and make rail travel more affordable for more people.”

Heidi Alexander, the Labour Party Transport Secretary, said: “I understand that passengers are frustrated rail fares keep rising despite unacceptable levels of delays and cancellations, which is why this government made sure this was the lowest increase in three years, and below the growth in average earnings.”

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She added: “We inherited a railway that was not fit for purpose, and I know it will take time for trust to be restored.

“My number one priority is getting the railways back to a place where people can rely on them and, through public ownership and the creation of Great British Railways, we’ll be putting passengers at the heart of everything we do.”

Silviya Barrett of Campaign for Better Transport said it was “yet another blow”, adding: “It’s especially disappointing that even railcards are going up in price after being protected for years.”

Alex Robertson, the chief executive of the independent watchdog Transport Focus, said: “Our research shows there is a clear mismatch between ticket prices and the service people expect to receive for what they have paid. This needs to change.”

The campaign group Railfuture’s Bruce Williamson said: “We had hoped that a new government would mean a change of policy, but no – passengers are still being punished for going green.“If they can find the money to freeze fuel duty for motorists, they can afford to freeze rail fares, too. When will passengers ever get a break?”