England rail fares frozen for 2026 under Budget plan
Good news if you commute by train in England: ministers say regulated rail fares will be frozen for the first time in 30 years. Announced today, 23 November 2025, and due to be confirmed at the Budget on Wednesday 26 November, the plan would hold next year’s prices at this year’s level for key commuter tickets.
Let’s get clear on the terms. Regulated fares are the tickets government oversees to stop sharp price rises. In practice that covers most season tickets, peak‑time day returns used by commuters, off‑peak returns between major cities and many pay‑as‑you‑go commuter fares. Roughly two in five fares are regulated; the rest are set by train companies themselves.
What this means for you: if you buy a regulated ticket next year, you shouldn’t pay more than you did in 2025. The Treasury’s own examples suggest a three‑days‑a‑week commuter using a Flexi Season could save around £315 on Milton Keynes–London, £173 on Woking–London, or £57 on Bradford–Leeds, with some season‑ticket holders on pricier routes keeping more than £300.
If you travel part‑time, a quick refresher on Flexi Season helps. It gives you any eight days of travel in a 28‑day window between the same two stations in standard class, and you must activate each day before you board. It’s designed to be at least 20% cheaper than a monthly season for people travelling two to three days a week.
Timing matters. Rail fare changes now typically happen in early March rather than January. Ministers haven’t published the exact start date alongside today’s announcement, but if the normal cycle is followed the freeze would be expected to take effect from March 2026.
Scope also matters. Today’s freeze applies in England. Scotland and Wales set their own regulated‑fare policies and may choose different approaches. If you travel cross‑border, check which part of your trip is covered by each system.
Why now? Transport takes roughly 14% of an average UK household’s weekly spending, so holding down regulated fares is a direct way to ease budgets. Ministers also argue it should help keep a lid on inflation by freezing a visible everyday cost.
And the small print: not every ticket is regulated. Unregulated fares-such as many advance purchases and first‑class tickets-are set by operators and can still change. In 2025, the overall average fare rose by 5.1% even though regulated fares were capped at about 4.6%, because unregulated tickets increased more in some areas.
How to work out your own saving. Compare your 2025 price with what would normally have happened next March. If you commute two or three days a week on the same route, run the numbers on a Flexi Season against daily tickets and a monthly season-the best choice varies by route and frequency. Independent tests have found Flexi isn’t always the cheapest, so do the maths for your pattern.
What happens next. The Chancellor will set out the full details in the Budget on 26 November. Look for the exact start date, the formal list of regulated categories covered, and any steps to simplify the wider fares system.
This sits alongside wider rail reform. The Railways Bill would create Great British Railways, a new publicly owned body to run most passenger services and manage infrastructure, with a push on digital ticketing and tap‑in/tap‑out. Ministers introduced the bill on 5 November 2025 and expect GBR to go live roughly a year after it becomes law.
If you’re a student, trainee, teacher or carer planning regular trips, a freeze on regulated fares can make costs more predictable, but it won’t automatically cut last‑minute long‑distance prices. If you need flexibility, build in time to compare options and remember you can claim Delay Repay when services fall short. We’ll update this guide once the Budget text lands.