Freeze on TfW rail fares for the next year

Daniel Bevan - Editor

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Rail passengers across Wales will see no increase in ticket prices for the next 12 months after the Welsh Government confirmed a nationwide fare freeze on Transport for Wales services from 1 March.

The announcement, made on St David’s Day by First Minister Eluned Morgan MS, applies to all TfW fares, including advance single tickets, return journeys and the operator’s tap-in, tap-out pay-as-you-go system.

TfW became the first rail operator outside London to introduce the system and is planning to expand it to other parts of the network.

The First Minister said: “I am delighted that all rail fares on TfW are going to stay at their current price for the next year.

“This gives certainty to passengers at a time when many are struggling with the cost of living.

“More people are choosing to travel by train in Wales, services are growing faster and they are more reliable.

“This is as a result of us spending £1.1bn improving the Core Valleys Lines and developing the South Wales Metro.

“We have also spent £800m in new trains that can carry 80% more passengers.

“Freezing the cost of fares is our latest step in making travelling by train more attractive and cheaper.

“We are already leading the way in the UK rail industry with TfW becoming the first train operator outside of London and the Southeast of England to introduce the tap in tap out simplified ticketing system.

“The new way to pay has already significantly reduced the cost of more than 3 million train journeys across southeast Wales in the past year, and with the rollout across north Wales just around the corner more people are set to benefit from cheaper fares.”

Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates MS, said:

“This is fantastic news for passengers.

“Alongside new trains, better services and a generational investment in Welsh rail, this fare freeze complements our action to deliver more affordable bus fares and the young person’s fare cap.”