UK rail passengers will face further increases in train fares from the spring, including a 4.9 per cent rise in prices for journeys in England.

The UK government announced that the latest annual price cap on regulated rail fares in England would take effect from 3 March 2024. The 4.9 per cent increase compares with a 5.9 per cent rise in 2023.

Passengers in Scotland face an even higher increase with ScotRail fares due to go up by 8.7 per cent from April 2024. This year’s fare rises in Wales and Northern Ireland have yet to be announced.

The UK government emphasised that its cap on 2024’s fare increases in England was “significantly lower” than July’s retail price index (RPI) rate of 9 per cent, which has historically been used to set the following year’s rise in ticket prices. Although RPI in the UK had dropped to 5.3 per cent by November.

Transport secretary Mark Harper said: “Having met our target of halving inflation across the economy, this is a significant intervention by the government to cap the increase in rail fares below last year’s rise.  

“Changed working patterns after the pandemic means that our railways are still losing money and require significant subsidies, so this rise strikes a balance to keep our railways running, while not overburdening passengers.

“We remain committed to supporting the rail sector reform outdated working practices to help put it on a sustainable financial footing.”

Clive Wratten, CEO of the Business Travel Association, said that the 4.9 per cent rise in 2024’s rail fares was a “mockery of the British traveller”.

“The railways are a mess. If this hike goes ahead in March, there needs to be a clear plan to improve the railway experience for people from all parts of the UK,” added Wratten.

Rail union RMT also criticised the latest increase in train fares, calling them a “slap in the face for passengers”.

General secretary Mick Lynch accused the UK government of “presiding over the managed decline of the railways” with cuts to infrastructure spending on the network.

“Meanwhile passengers are once again slapped in the face with massive fare increases proving once again what a categorical failure the fragmented privatised system is,” added Lynch.