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Rail fare prices increases in Wales will be capped at 5.9%, the Welsh Government has confirmed.

Previously, fares have increased each year in line with inflation. However, this will not be the case this year.

Making the announcement, Wales’ deputy minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters, said that instead of a 12.3% increase for 2023, fares will not increase by more than the rise seen in England.

This change, which only impacts regulated fares, will come into force from March 5.

Mr Waters said: “We understand this is a significant increase for passengers in the current cost-of-living crisis but we have tried to keep the increase as low as possible.

“Unfortunately, given the disappointing budget settlement from the UK Government, we cannot afford to deliver a lower increase or a wholescale freeze of rail fares in Wales.”

Mr Waters said “some difficult choices” will need to be made in order to maintain the current level of rail services in Wales.

However, the deputy minister said Transport for Wales (TfW) has been asked by the Welsh Government to “deliver simple, integrated ticketing solutions across public transport modes to help make public transport easier and more affordable for passengers to use”.

He also said TfW is retaining “a range of cheaper fares”, including free travel for children when travelling with a fare-paying adult.