Rail fares have been frozen across England until March 2027 for Standard class tickets including Seasons, Off-Peak and Anytime.
Frequently asked questions about The Big Rail Fare Freeze
The Fares Freeze means that regulated train tickets (the ones where pricing is set by the government and not train companies) have been frozen across England until March 2027. These include Season tickets, Anytime and Off-Peak tickets.
It doesn’t automatically cover journeys that are entirely in Scotland or Wales. Tickets can be purchased online, in ticket offices, or via accessible options such as dedicated telephone booking likes.
The Fares Freeze could save customers across the country around £600m in total, so, if you're a regular commuter, that could mean more money in your pocket to spend on the things you love. If you're not a commuter, you can still benefit when travelling on an Anytime or Off-Peak tickets.
If you travel more than two to three times a week then you may find you'd save more with a Season ticket. Check out the National Rail Season Ticket Calculator, which will help you compare prices across various ticket types.
Unregulated fares include First Class, Advance and Saver tickets. These fares are not regulated and may rise, however; they typically follow changes in regulated fares, meaning passengers can still benefit from savings even on Standard unregulated products. In addition, around half a million Advance train tickets for less than £10 are released weekly so there are always bargains to be had.
The freeze only covers Standard regulated tickets. First Class and Standard Premium tickets aren't included.
Yes absolutely, all your existing Railcards, discounts, and Concessions carry on as normal. Find out more of the ways you can save money on your train ticket.
Child tickets are regulated so are also part of the freeze. Children under the age of 5 still also travel for free on most journeys but check with your train company to make sure.
Of course! Seat reservations work just as they always have and can still be made online, at stations, over the phone or at Rail Appointed Travel Agents.
No, there are no changes to how far in advance you can buy your ticket due to The Fares Freeze. Find out more about advance booking dates.
Yes, if your train is delayed for any reason and you have been travelling on a participating National Rail service you can claim Delay Repay or apply for a refund. Visit your train company’s website to find out more.
If your journey is affected by strikes, you may be eligible for a refund. Please visit the National Rail website for more information about industrial action.
Charges to fares resulting from the government’s programme to simplify fares (e.g. the introduction of pay-as-you-go (PAYG)) may result in ticket types, products and/or time restrictions being altered. Please visit your train company’s website to find out more.
The Big Rail Fare Freeze terms and conditions
The Fares Freeze applies until March 2027 on regulated fares. Excludes fares set by ScotRail, Transport for Wales, Caledonian Sleeper, MerseyRail, Transport for London (TfL), Hull Trains, Lumo, Grand Central and Heathrow Express. A similar scheme applies in Scotland on ScotRail. First class and Standard Premium tickets are excluded. Changes to fares resulting from the fares reform (e.g. due to introduction of pay-as-you-go (PAYG)) may result in ticket types, products and/or time restrictions being altered. For more information please visit the National Rail website.
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