Councillors back call for rail fares freeze

PLYMOUTH politicians are calling for a freeze on rail fares as they are set to rise by 5.8% next year. The city's Liberal Democrats are backing calls for the Government to take action on ticket prices.

- By WILLIAM TELFORD

With the RPI inflation index coming in at 4.8% this week, it means rail fares are likely to jump by 5.8% next year, as they are calculated by adding a percentage point to the July inflation reading.

The Government has not yet confirmed how it will calculate rail fare increases for 2026 regulated fares, which make up about half of all rail journeys. The campaign group Railfuture and transport charity Campaign for Better Transport have called for fares to be more affordable.