Rail passengers could face the largest increase to their fares in five years if a 3.6% increase takes effect in January 2018.
Latest inflation figures as measured by the Retail Prices Index (RPI) would see regulated fares – which include season tickets, commuting into big cities, and “anytime” tickets – in England and Wales increase by as much as 3.6% from January.
If the UK Government agrees to the rise, the new fares will be implemented from January 1, 2018.
Fares increased by 2.3% earlier this year, while in 2015 it was 1.1%. The latest figure would be the highest since 2013.
However, last year, increases also included unregulated fares such as advance purchase and off-peak leisure tickets.
Those are not included in the latest announcement, but train operators may decide on their own increases – which could be more or less than the regulated ones.
Critics suggested that the RPI measure should be scrapped, citing the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) as the framework for changes to most government-controlled funding.
Stephen Joseph, Chief Executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said: “Passengers would be forgiven for thinking they are being taken for a ride when RPI has been dropped as an official measure for most other things.”