Rail commuters face 1.6% rise on ticket prices

Rail commuters in England and Wales could face a rise of 1.6% in the cost of their tickets from January.

It follows the release of the latest retail prices index figure – used to cap price increases on most commuter routes.

Passenger groups and opposition parties have called for a fare freeze.

But with many of us having swapped the daily commute for home working during the pandemic, the government’s already had to pour billions into keeping the system afloat.

Will the passengers stay away? And can the network survive if they do?