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Rail fares in England will be frozen in January, for the first time in 30 years – but the big question is: why didn’t the government do it before?

If you think the answer has anything to do with rail re-nationalisation – you’re mistaken!

Here’s the BBC:

“Rail fares in England are to be frozen next year for the first time in 30 years, the government has announced.

“The freeze until March 2027 will apply to regulated fares, which includes season tickets and off-peak returns.

“The most recent fare rise, in March 2025, was 4.6%. Rail fares traditionally have gone up in January, based on the July rate of the retail price index (RPI) + 1% – although this formula has not always been followed. Since 2021, the annual increase has come in March instead of January.

“About 45% of rail fares are regulated by the government in England, Wales and Scotland – but the freeze only relates to travel in England. The announcement also only applies to services run by England-based train operating companies.

“The transport secretary said it was part of “wider plans to rebuild Great British Railways”.

“Great British Railways is a public body which is in the process of being set up, and is part of the government’s plans to bring parts of the railway system into public ownership.”

The part about Great British Railways is, in fact, irrelevant. It has nothing to do with the reason the government can freeze rail fares.

Would you like to know the real reason it can?

To read the rest, head over to The Whip Line.

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