THE first rail fare freeze in 30 years shows how nationalising services will help tackle the cost-of-living crisis, transport unions said today.

Ministers said that the freeze is part of their plans to rebuild a publicly owned Great British Railways and will benefit more than a billion passenger journeys in and services run by English train-operating companies.

RMT union general secretary Eddie Dempsey welcomed the “first step towards better-value fares for passengers and [it] shows that government plans for public ownership of the railways can deliver real tangible benefits for passengers.”

“More affordable fares will encourage greater use of public transport, supporting jobs, giving a shot in the arm to local economies and helping to improve the environment.

“As more passengers return to the railway, it is worth remembering that a well-staffed network with ticket-office workers on hand to help people find the best and most affordable tickets is the best way forward for the rail industry.”

Train drivers’ union Aslef leader Mick Whelan said that helping rail affordability is “the right decision at the right time” to “help grow our railway in this country, because the railway is Britain’s green alternative — taking cars and lorries off our congested roads and moving people and goods safely around our country in an environmentally friendly way.”

TSSA union general secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said: “This move ahead of the Budget signals a much-needed and welcome step for hard-pressed passengers, many of whom continue to struggle with the cost of living.  

“We simply must have a railway which can be used by all — and that means fair fares. Our railways are the economic backbone of the country and we can only build a better, fairer Britain with a railway run in the public interest in all respects — including when it comes to fares.” 

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “The disastrous privatisation experiment left regular train travel unaffordable and unreliable for far too many, but this government is turning the page on the failed era of privatisation by delivering publicly owned railways which put passengers above profit.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the freeze will be among the “fair choices to deliver on the country’s priorities” to cut NHS waiting lists, national debt and the cost of living to be announced at the Budget.