Train fares rise five-fold since 1987, official statistics show

Train fares in 2024 are five times higher than in 1987, according to inflation figures from the Office of National Statistics.

Bus and coach fares rose six- fold over the same period, while motoring costs are three and a half times higher.

The rate of road fuel duty has been frozen since 2011. In the Budget on October 30, Chancellor Rachel Reeves also continued a ‘temporary’ drop of 5p in fuel duty introduced by the previous government in 2022.

This means that, in real terms, driving a car continues to become cheaper relative to travelling by rail.

Regulated rail fares rose by 4.9% in 2024 and are due to increase again by 4.6% in January 2025. The increase is one per cent above the rate of inflation as measured over the 12 months to July. The most recent rate of inflation, announced in November, is 2.3%.

Around 45% of rail fares are regulated.