From Sunday, rail passengers in England and Wales will be subject to a 4.6% hike in train fares, marking the first increase in railcard costs in over a decade.
Despite ongoing concerns over train service reliability, this adjustment has been met with disapproval from public transport groups.
In a parallel move, the Scottish Government has announced a 3.8% increase in all ScotRail fares starting April 1.
This adjustment in regulated fares will impact season tickets, certain off-peak long-distance returns, and flexible tickets used in major urban areas, consequently pushing up annual travel expenses for many by hundreds of pounds.
For instance, an annual season ticket from Woking to London will now cost an additional £187, while a York to Leeds pass will see an increase of about £133.
While operators have the autonomy to set unregulated fare increases, these are expected to rise by approximately 4.6%, influenced by stringent governmental financial oversight.
Echoing the stance of its English counterpart, the Welsh Government has applied the same cap on regulated fare increases, although Transport for Wales will see varied adjustments in its unregulated fares.
Transport for London (TfL) has also confirmed a 4.6% fare increase for the Tube and rail services within the capital starting this Sunday. However, it has decided to keep bus and tram fares unchanged.
Furthermore, for the first time since 2013, the cost of railcards in Britain—excluding those for disabled passengers—will also see a rise from Sunday.
