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Railways: Fares

Asked by Charlotte CaneLiberal DemocratDepartment for TransportTabled Answered 14 October 2025UIN 77825

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of rail fares on the cost of living.

Answered by Simon Lightwood

As we reform fares and deliver Great British Railways, we must ensure passengers and taxpayers get a fair deal. Since the pandemic, 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 in 2023/24. Our goal is to balance affordability for both passengers and taxpayers, while ensuring the railway’s long-term financial sustainability.

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