For the first time in three decades, rail passengers in England will see a freeze on regulated train fares, a move that government officials say will help millions of commuters and directly combat the rising cost of living. The announcement, made on November 22, 2025, by Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, comes just days before the unveiling of the government's much-anticipated Budget and signals a major shift in how rail pricing is managed in the country.
The freeze will remain in effect until March 2027 and applies to regulated fares, which include season tickets, peak returns for commuters, and off-peak returns between major cities. These regulated fares cover about 45% of all rail journeys in England, affecting more than a billion passenger trips annually, according to BBC and The Independent. Notably, the freeze does not extend to unregulated fares, which are set by train operators and have typically risen at similar rates to regulated fares. In the year to March 2025, unregulated fares increased by 5.5%, slightly outpacing the 4.6% rise in regulated fares.
For many commuters, the savings are tangible. The government estimates that those traveling on the most expensive routes could save over £300 each year. Specific examples provided by the Department for Transport highlight the impact: a commuter traveling three days a week from Milton Keynes to London using a flexi-season ticket will save £315 per year; a similar commuter from Woking to London will save £173; and one from Bradford to Leeds will save £57. These numbers, cited by both government statements and national news outlets, underscore the direct financial relief the freeze offers to regular rail users.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves emphasized the broader aims of the policy, stating, "Next week at the Budget I’ll set out the fair choices to deliver on the country’s priorities to cut NHS waiting lists, cut national debt and cut the cost of living. That’s why we’re choosing to freeze rail fares for the first time in 30 years, which will ease the pressure on household finances and make travelling to work, school or to visit friends and family that bit easier." Her remarks, reported by The Independent and echoed by BBC, frame the fare freeze as a cornerstone of a wider government strategy to address economic challenges facing households across the country.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander reinforced this message, saying, "We all want to see cheaper rail travel, so we’re freezing fares to help millions of passengers save money. Commuters on more expensive routes will save more than £300 per year, meaning they keep more of their hard-earned cash. This is part of our wider plans to rebuild Great British Railways the public can be proud of and rely on." According to The Independent, Alexander's comments reflect the government's intent to restore public confidence in the rail system while making it more affordable and accessible.
The freeze is a key element of the government's plan to establish Great British Railways (GBR), a new publicly owned entity that will assume responsibility for running and managing the nation's rail infrastructure. The Railways Bill, currently progressing through Parliament, will formally create GBR, with the aim of ending years of fragmentation in the rail sector, improving service standards, and delivering better value for money. As reported by BBC and government press releases, GBR will also spearhead a modernization of ticketing—introducing tap-in tap-out systems, digital ticketing, and investments in superfast WiFi—to bring the rail network firmly into the 21st century.
Ben Plowden, CEO of the Campaign for Better Transport, welcomed the move, stating, "We know that cost is the number one concern for people wanting to travel by train, so it is very welcome that fares will be frozen next year as we have been calling for. As well as helping households with the cost of living, this will enable more people to choose rail, reducing traffic on our roads, benefitting the economy, helping the environment, and connecting communities across the country." His comments, featured in government releases, highlight the potential for the fare freeze to encourage greater use of public transport and yield environmental benefits by shifting travel away from cars.
Rail industry groups and unions have also voiced their support. The Rail Delivery Group, representing train operators, called the freeze "good news for customers" and reiterated its commitment to working with the government on reforms. Passenger watchdog Transport Focus, through its chief executive Alex Robertson, said, "Freezing fares will be extremely welcome news for rail passengers who consistently tell us value for money is their highest priority, alongside trains running on time. It should also make it more attractive for people to use the train more often or for the first time." Meanwhile, Aslef union general secretary Mick Whelan described the decision as "the right decision, at the right time, to help passengers be able to afford to make that journey they need to take, and to help grow our railway in this country, because the railway is Britain’s green alternative – taking cars and lorries off our congested roads and moving people and goods safely around our country in an environmentally friendly way." Eddie Dempsey, general secretary of the RMT union, added, "More affordable fares will encourage greater use of public transport, supporting jobs, giving a shot in the arm to local economies and helping to improve the environment." These endorsements, reported by The Independent, underline the broad consensus among passenger groups and labor organizations that the freeze is a positive step for both consumers and the wider economy.
Politically, the fare freeze has prompted debate about the legacy of rail pricing in England. Labour officials have criticized what they describe as "relentless" fare increases under previous Conservative governments, while Conservative figures argue that their tenure saw below-inflation rises and calls for restraint in fare hikes to protect commuters. The BBC notes that, since the privatization of British Rail in 1996, the government has regulated certain fares, but this is the first outright freeze in that period—though there have been years where increases were below the rate of inflation and a brief dip following the 2010 financial crisis.
The government has positioned the fare freeze not just as a short-term relief measure but as part of a longer-term strategy to "gradually move away from annual blanket increases," as stated in official communications. With transport costs making up about 14% of average household spending, the freeze is expected to provide meaningful savings and limit inflation by holding down a major component of everyday expenses. The government estimates that the freeze will save commuters on more expensive routes more than £300 each year, a figure that could make a real difference for working families facing broader economic pressures.
As the country awaits the full details of the upcoming Budget, the rail fare freeze stands out as a rare piece of good news for passengers, offering immediate financial relief and signaling a renewed focus on affordability, modernization, and public stewardship of the railways.
