Rail Fares Hike Hits Wales: What Will Your Ticket Cost Now?
From today, rail passengers in Wales using Transport for Wales services are set to experience an average ticket price surge of 4.6%, with specific fares increasing at higher rates. The Welsh Government’s publicly-owned transport provider, which runs services on the Wales and Borders network, is enforcing the fare rise on its regulated services effective from March 2. The decision was authorised by Welsh Government Transport Secretary Ken Stakes, who emphasised the importance of balancing minimal cost increases for passengers with the necessity for Transport for Wales to generate sufficient revenue to cover rising expenses and lessen the subsidies required from the Cardiff Bay administration.
The 4.6% average increase in Transport for Wales fares aligns with the UK Government’s directive affecting train operating companies in England. However, Transport for Wales will be implementing varying increases across different regulated products. For instance, anytime day single fares will see a 3% increase, seven-day season ticket fares will rise by 3.5%, and both anytime day return and off-peak return fares will surge by 6%. This fare hike will impact the affordability of rail travel for passengers throughout Wales.
Here is a breakdown of the new pricing for single tickets on some common train routes in Wales, based on specified/non-anytime tickets:
– Cardiff to Swansea – £5.29
– Cardiff to Newport – £6.89
– Cardiff to Barry Island – £5.09
– Cardiff to Caerphilly – £6.09
– Cardiff to Llanelli – £7.99
– Cardiff to Carmarthen – £11.29
– Cardiff to Haverfordwest – £23.99
– Swansea to Aberystwyth – £11.09
– Swansea to Carmarthen – £6.59
– Swansea to Neath – £4.59
– Swansea to Port Talbot Parkway – £6.39
– Merthyr to Cardiff – £6.09
– Pontypridd to Cardiff – £6.09
– Pontypridd to Abergavenny – £20.09
– Pontypridd to Cwmbran – £15.19
– Neath to Cardiff – £2.89
– Holyhead to Bangor – £8.49
– Llanharan to Cardiff – £6.09
– Caerphilly to Cardiff – £6.09
– Llandudno Junction to Conwy – £1.99
– Machynlleth to Aberystwyth – £5.19
– Colwyn Bay to Llandudno Junction – £3.19
For Anytime Day Return tickets, the following routes will see pricing adjustments:
– Cardiff Central to Carmarthen – £28.69
– Cardiff to Swansea – £15.09
– Cardiff to Newport – £6.99
– Cardiff to Haverfordwest – £39.09
– Cardiff to Caerphilly – £9.79
Transport Secretary Ken Skates announced in a ministerial statement, “This year, we have agreed to an overall regulated rail fare increase of 4.6%, effective from March 2. This is in line with the increase already announced for fares controlled by the UK Government. However, Transport for Wales will be applying different increases to each regulated product. Anytime day single fares will increase by 3%, seven-day season ticket fares by 3.5%, while anytime day return and off-peak return fares will both increase by 6%.” Skates highlighted that regulated fares are a remnant of the privatised railway era, designed to prevent drastic fare hikes by private operators solely for profit maximisation.
Transport for Wales serves over 7.5 million passengers annually, a number set to rise further with the ongoing introduction of new diesel, electric, and hybrid trains, coupled with the electrification of the Core Valleys to enhance service capacity. The Welsh Government reserves the right each spring to adjust Transport for Wales rail fares based on the Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation measure from the previous July, plus an additional 1%.
The increase in rail fares may pose financial challenges for passengers, but the government aims to minimise these impacts as much as possible. With ongoing rail reforms and the return of railway services to the public sector, the hope is to eventually phase out regulated rail fares, prioritising value for money for passengers. As passengers grapple with the increased cost of rail travel, the Welsh Government continues to navigate the delicate balance between affordability and sustainability in the transportation sector.