Railways: Fares
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of abolishing peak fares for rail passengers.
Answered by Simon Lightwood
We are overhauling the fares and ticketing system to make it easier for passengers to trust that they are buying the right ticket and getting the best fare, with the move to Great British Railways passengers will be able to receive a more consistent offer across the network.
The amount of taxpayer subsidy provided to the railway industry has increased from under a quarter in 2018/19 to almost half of total income following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2023/24. We need to balance affordability for both passengers and taxpayers as we reform fares and deliver Great British Railways, ensuring everyone gets a fair deal.
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