Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to (a) waive the RPI regulated rail fares increase for 2021, (b) guarantee that commercial fares will be frozen for 2021 under any new or extended Emergency Measures Agreements reached with train operating companies and (c) freeze all fares on the franchises which are currently publicly operated; and if he will make a statement.

Any increase in rail fares will help fund crucial investment in our railways. Taxpayer support has been vital to keep trains running throughout the Coronavirus pandemic and it is only fair that passengers also contribute to maintaining and improving the services they use.

We have already cut costs for thousands of young people with the 16-17 Saver Railcard, and will be rolling out a new Veteran’s Railcard to give over 830,000 former service personnel, who do not otherwise benefit from discounted rail travel, up to a third off their rail costs.