A rail fare freeze has been announced across the country.
The announcement has been welcomed by Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols, who said it will offer much-needed relief for commuters.
The freeze, announced by the Labour Government, means passengers will not pay more for season tickets, peak returns, or off-peak returns between major cities.
Charlotte Nichols MP said: “I am delighted that our Labour Government is freezing rail fares for the first time in 30 years.
“For years rail passengers have faced relentless fares hikes and Labour are taking action to protect railway users.
“Many of my constituents in Warrington North rely on the train to commute to work and day in day out – from Central, Bank Quay, Padgate, Birchwood and Glazebrook – our Government is standing up for them and making the positive change we want to see.”
Ms Nichols said the freeze reverses a long trend of rising costs under the previous administration.
She said: “Under the previous government fares rose by 60 per cent between 2010 and 2024 and we change that today.
“By freezing rail fares for one year, we are putting money back in the pockets of hard-working people and delivering savings across over a billion journeys.”
She also highlighted additional plans to make rail travel simpler and more accessible.
She said: “We are not stopping at freezing fares either.
“Passengers are regularly frustrated by how difficult it is to buy the right ticket – so our Government is fixing that by expanding Pay as You Go to another 50 stations this December and introducing easier to understand fares on key routes.”
The changes are part of the government’s plans to rebuild a publicly owned Great British Railway.
Ben Plowden, CEO of Campaign for Better Transport, welcomed the announcement.
Mr Plowden said: “We know that cost is the number one concern for people wanting to travel by train, so it is very welcome that fares will be frozen next year as we have been calling for.”
He added that the move could help boost rail usage, reduce road traffic, and deliver environmental and economic benefits.
