Rail fares to rise at fastest pace for nine years

Regulated rail fares will rise by 3.8% from March, the biggest increase in nine years.

These regulated prices make up about half of fares and include season tickets on most commuter routes.

Increases are normally implemented on the first working day of every year, but have been delayed until March since 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The fare rises are based on the Retail Prices Index (RPI) measure of inflation in July.

This time, the government says it will not increase fares by the normal formula of RPI plus 1%, which is used this year when fares went up by 2.6%.

Rail minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: "[This] strikes a fair balance, ensuring we can continue to invest record amounts into a more modern, reliable railway, ease the burden on taxpayers and protect passengers from the highest RPI in years.

"Delaying the changes until March 2022 offers people the chance to save money by renewing their fares at last year's price."

Operators are generally expected to match these rises for unregulated fares, although they have been hit hard by the cost of lower passenger numbers during the pandemic.

The government said £14bn of taxpayers' money had been spent to keep services running during the pandemic.

It said the rise would help meet some of those costs as well as pay for service improvements.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of the independent watchdog Transport Focus, said: "As some fares rise it is even more important that Great British Railways, when it is set up, gives life to the government's ambition to make rail fares better value for money.

"The need to boost passenger numbers and revenue through innovative rail ticket retailing and offers will be vital. Keeping costs under control will also be needed."

But Louise Haigh, Labour's shadow transport secretary, said: "This brutal Tory fare hike will be a nightmare before Christmas for millions of passengers.

"Families already facing soaring taxes and bills will now be clobbered with an eye-watering rise in the cost of the daily commute."

The Department for Transport also announced the Book with Confidence scheme will be extended until the end of March next year.

This allows passengers to change their travel plans up until the night before departure, without being charged a fee, or cancel their tickets and receive a refund in the form of rail vouchers.