Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they assess the value for money of train tickets sold in the UK.

Passenger numbers are at record high levels and this growth is expected to continue. We are undertaking the biggest rail modernisation programme for over a century, in the five years to 2019, Network Rail is spending more than £40 billion to maintain and improve the network. Rail fares will continue to play a role in this and help deliver massive benefits for passengers, including relief from crowding on some of the nation’s busiest routes.

Fares revenue is crucial to funding day-to-day railway operations and the massive upgrade programme we are delivering, all of which benefit passengers. However, the Government recognises the serious concern consumers have around the cost of rail fares. That is why in order to continue to deliver value for money for passengers Government regulates many fares including commuter fares; other fares are a matter for the train operating companies to decide. We have committed to capping regulated rail fares at RPI+0% for the term of this Parliament from 2016 to 2020. This extends the cap on rail fares put in place for 2014 and 2015. This will benefit over a quarter of a million annual season ticket holders, providing an average saving of £425 in the five years to 2020.