, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North
Wales: Each year we have to make decisions on changes to
regulated rail fares in Wales, balancing the need to keep cost
increases as low as possible for passengers whilst also ensuring
that Transport for Wales are able to collect enough revenue to
meet their rising costs and reduce subsidy.
This year we have agreed to an overall increase in regulated rail
fares of 4.6% with the increase to take place on 2 March 2025.
This is in line with the increase already announced for fares
controlled by the UK Government. However, Transport for Wales
will be applying different increases to each regulated product.
Anytime Day Single fares will increase by 3%, 7-Day Season ticket
fares will increase by 3.5% and Anytime Day Return fares and Off
Peak Return fares will both increase by 6%.
We understand that any increase in fares is unwelcome for
passengers, but we have tried to keep the increase as low as
possible. It is also important to recognise that the increasing
majority of passengers no longer use these regulated products.
They are a vestige of the privatised railway, established to
ensure that private operators could not drive huge increases in
fares to maximise their profits at the expense of passengers
outside the control of Governments. It is my hope that with the
progress of rail reform, the return of railway services into the
public sector that this will see the end of the need for
regulated rail fares with public sector operators prioritising
value for money for passengers.
This is already the case in Wales with Transport for Wales with
the introduction of Pay As You Go ticketing. Over 150,000 rail
customers have already benefited in just three months since it
was fully launched at all 95 stations in the South Wales Metro
Area. Transport for Wales are confident that passengers will
increasingly use this new technology which offers a significant
saving compared to the regulated Anytime Single or Return fares
and 7-day season tickets. Alongside this Transport for Wales are
also offering airline style demand responsive Advance tickets.
These are now available up to five minutes before departure and
offer the best value for longer rail journeys across Wales and
Borders.
