Return fares on most Welsh trains to rise

Some ticket fares will rise by 6% on Transport for Wales (TfW) trains next month, the Welsh government has decided.

It applies to off-peak and day-return tickets. Single tickets will increase by 3% and seven-day season tickets by 3.5% from 2 March.

Transport Secretary Ken Skates acknowledged fare rises were "unwelcome for passengers, but we have tried to keep increases as low as possible".

Ministers change so-called regulated rail fares every year. TfW's overall increase of 4.6% matches a rise introduced by the UK government in England.

The Welsh Conservatives said passengers will question the increase while Metro improvement works are still ongoing,

In recent years the Welsh government, which owns TfW, has been forced to increase its funding for the company because of changing passenger habits after the pandemic.

Ministers hope to eventually reduce the taxpayer-funded subsidy if TfW can make more money from ticket sales.

Skates said he tried to balance "the need to keep cost increases as low as possible for passengers whilst also ensuring that Transport for Wales are able to collect enough revenue to meet their rising costs and reduce subsidy".

TfW chief executive James Price told a Senedd committee last month the government had instructed it "to minimise the subsidy and to grow the farebox".

"At a high level, I think, our strategy is to charge those who can and will pay more, particularly where the service is more discretionary, and to simplify and reduce fares where it is absolutely societally necessary for people to travel," he said.

David Beer, Wales spokesperson for passenger group Transport Focus, said: "The highest priorities for passengers are value for money and reliability.

"Whilst it is good that pay as you go ticketing will offer a saving for South Wales Metro users, passengers across the Wales and Borders network will want to see investment in new trains and better services continue, to deliver the experience that brings people back."

Peter Fox, Welsh Conservative MS, said: "Labour-run Transport for Wales need to ensure that services are improved so that hard working commuters get what they deserve.

"Passengers across the Core Valley Lines have faced severe disruption and the works are still ongoing. It's no wonder passengers will question these increases whilst patiently awaiting the works being finished."