Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Rail Fares

Thursday 8 January 2026 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Labour Government froze rail fares for the first time in 30 years.
  • Last Government saw ticket prices increase by 60%.
  • Simplified ticketing systems have led to concerns over fare increases.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chris Hinchliff Lab North East Hertfordshire
Transport
Context

The Labour Government has frozen rail fares for the first time in 30 years, but constituents are facing rising costs over recent years.

Question

What steps she is taking to help reduce rail fares. The fact that this Labour Government have frozen rail fares for the first time in 30 years is hugely welcome, but for many of my constituents, recent years have felt like death by a thousand cuts, and they desperately need to see rail fares come down even further. Would the Secretary of State meet me to discuss the amendment that I have tabled to the Railways Bill, which sets out an option for going even further and securing permanent reductions in rail fares for every traveller?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Transport (Heidi Alexander)

My hon. Friend is completely right to raise the issue of affordability for the travelling public. After the relentless fare hikes under the last Government—ticket prices went up by 60%—I think the announcement by this Labour Government will be welcomed by millions of people who are using our trains this year. I will certainly ask the Rail Minister to sit down with my hon. Friend to discuss his amendment. I can assure him that as we set up Great British Railways, affordability will be a key priority for that new organisation, alongside balancing costs for taxpayers.

Answered
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Q2 Martin Vickers Con Brigg and Immingham
Transport
Context

London North Eastern Railway introduced a simplified system which has resulted in fare increases, causing concern among constituents.

Question

While keeping fares down is welcome, as is simplification, the Secretary of State will be aware that London North Eastern Railway introduced what it called a simplified system a few months ago, which has actually resulted in a number of increases, and that is causing considerable concern to my constituents and others. Does the Department intend to review LNER’s ticketing process in due course?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Transport (Heidi Alexander)

Many of the cheapest fares on LNER are still available. In the long-distance fare trials, the vast majority of people will benefit from the simplified ticketing system. Of course, as these trials take place, we will want to review this process and ensure that we are providing good value for money for as many of the travelling public as possible.

Answered
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Q3 Jerome Mayhew Con Broadland and Fakenham
Transport
Context

Worries have been raised about the removal of discounts in the name of fare simplification on Greater Anglia and c2c, shortly after they were nationalised.

Question

But it is not just LNER, is it? We have also heard worrying accounts about Greater Anglia and c2c, shortly after they have been nationalised. The Government say that fare simplification is one of their key objectives; fair enough, but there are increasing numbers of accounts of discounted tickets being removed in the name of fare simplification. How will the Secretary of State prevent the fare simplification process from turning into just the removal of discounts?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Transport (Heidi Alexander)

As we extend contactless ticketing, passengers will benefit from simpler, more flexible travel, and the majority of single tickets will be the same price or even lower. We do not want this positive change to have any perverse impacts, so we will monitor it as it beds in.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The exact measures to prevent discount removal were not detailed.

How: We Will Monitor

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