Will the Train Be Too Expensive?
Why the TSSA is wagging its tail
Inflation’s latest dip left the rail sector playing penny‑wise, and the Transport Workers & Staff Association (TSSA) is raising a red flag over the possibility that fares could jump in 2026.
Rate of inflation gets a bump
- Retail Prices Index (RPI) climbed from 4.4 % in June to 4.8 % in July.
- Government practice pairs a fare hike with a 1‑point-plus jump on the latest RPI reading.
- That would translate into a 5.8 % rise if the old pattern is kept.
What the TSSA is shouting from the platform
Maryam Eslamdoust, TSSA General Secretary castigates the political fog: “We need the Department for Transport to keep the price‑label sane, or we’ll see commuters ditching the rails all together.” Her main points:
- Heavily regulated fares handle around half of every journey; a cut‑trip on cost can mean an immediate seat‑vacuum.
- Higher prices could push people to the custard‑car era – the combinational thrill of driving plus traffic jam.
- Fares that are ’people‑friendly’ keep the line full, helping the economy and keeping the air cleaner.
Why it matters now
The TSSA warns that “passengers need to avoid pay‑checks clobbering twists; we want folks to hop on the rails again for their travels.” It’s a call to keep the price‑tag humble so people are not forced to carry their bags in their cars.
Takeaway
Hopefully the government will heed the TSSA’s plea. A bounce in fares shouldn’t become a headline; we’d rather see trains full, roads less crowded, and economies humming.
