News - Rail fares rise is 'cold Christmas' from government

Rail union TSSA has accused the government of offering millions of rail passengers a “cold Christmas” after revealing a near 5 per cent hike in regulated rail fares in the new year. 

From March 2024 fares will jump by 4.9 per cent across England and Wales, the Department for Transport has revealed.  

Commenting, TSSA General Secretary, Maryam Eslamdoust said: “This will be a cold Christmas for millions who use the rail network because these fare rises are going to hit passengers hard in the pocket. 

“We remain in a cost of living crisis and whatever spin the Conservative government tries to put on this announcement the only winners will again be the profiteering rail companies.  

“The government should have given workers the Christmas present we all want and issued a rail fares’ freeze which would help grow the economy and encourage people to use our trains – the greenest form of mass transport.”  

*On Wednesday, Transport Scotland announced rail fares across Scotland will increase by 8.7 per cent from next April.