UK Budget 2025: Rail Fares Frozen and £3 Bus Cap Retained, While Ireland Separately Announces €24.3bn Transport Plan

Following the UK Government’s Budget 2025 announcement, a look through the Treasury’s document reveals that railway fares will be frozen, the £3 bus fare cap will be retained, funding will be provided for new railway improvements, support will be given to Transport for London’s plan to extend the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to Thamesmead, primarily funded by London with long-term government contributions, and in Ireland, €2 billion from the Irish Government’s Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund will support the construction of MetroLink, reflecting its scale and national importance.

UK Treasury Announces First Rail Fare Freeze in 30 Years

What a coincidence! Just yesterday, I posted an article suggesting that rail fare consultation should be sought to give the general public input on options, and also shared my thoughts on reforming the fare and ticketing system to make it simpler.

From: HM Treasury Press Release:

Increased operating deficit for London Buses and route branding for Hayes

A bus news website called Route-One has published an article raising the issue about the operating deficit for London Bus services.

From Route-One

London bus deficit to hit £1.8m a day

Falling passenger numbers, increased costs and the effects of Mayor Sadiq Khan’s fares freeze means that London’s bus operating deficit is set to rise from £599m in 2016/17 to £647m - £1.8m a day - by 2022/23, admits Transport for London (TfL).

TFL releases their 2016/17 budget and business plan

TFL has just set out their new budget and business plan to improve London Transport services over the coming years.

From TFL press release

Transport for London's (TfL's) proposed Budget 2016/17 and Business Plan has been published, setting out a wide range of further improvements to the transport network in the coming years.

The document shows how investment in the public transport network will continue to deliver significant improvements for customers.