Transport for Wales rail fares to be frozen for a year

The freeze, which comes into effect on St David’s Day (1 March), will apply to all of Transport for Wales‘ regulated and unregulated fares, including season tickets, return tickets, and the new ‘tap-in, tap-out’ pay-as-you-go system.

First Minister Eluned Morgan said the move would provide “certainty to passengers at a time when many are struggling with the cost of living” and make train travel “more attractive and cheaper”.

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

“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.”

The announcement was welcomed by some passengers.

Speaking to BBC News, rail passenger Edward Eggers said: “At least it’s not going up. I’ve got a railcard, as long as it stays at this price, I’m decently happy with it. I would always advocate for it being lower but I think the transport system just needs the money, so I’ll pay what I need to.”

However, the move was criticised by opposition parties.

Plaid Cymru said that to deliver “real, tangible change” in the rail network, the Welsh Government must “begin the process of undoing decades of underfunding of rail funding by Westminster government and the devolution of rail infrastructure – something Labour have failed to demand.”

Reform UK Wales said the Labour government in Cardiff Bay had had a “generation to establish a functioning transport network in Wales” but had “failed to do that and now they’re rightly being punished”.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, added that the fare freeze complements the government’s action to deliver more affordable bus fares and the young person’s fare cap.

The freeze in Wales follows a similar announcement by the UK government for rail fares in England.

As MARTA is installing new fare gates, it is waiving fare payment at those station entrances where both old and new can't coexist. The result is informal, temporary fare-free rail between select destinations. But are fare-free proponents rushing to ride?

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Train fares in England & Wales are to rise by up to 5.9 per cent from March 5 2023, making it the biggest increase in over a decade. Transport secretary Mark Harper hailed the increase as “well below inflation” as the “biggest-ever Government intervention in rail fares.” “This is a fair balance between the passengers who use our trains and the taxpayers who help pay for them,” Mr Harper said.
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https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/train-fares-increase-transport-inflation-b2250729.html