England’s regulated rail fares will be frozen throughout 2026 - the first freeze in 30 years - announced on Sunday 23 November by Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. The decision is due to be confirmed at Wednesday’s Budget on 26 November. For West Yorkshire, the Treasury’s example shows a typical three‑days‑a‑week commuter using a flexi‑season between Bradford and Leeds saving about £57 next year.

“We’re choosing to freeze rail fares… easing the pressure on household finances,” said the Chancellor, pitching the policy as direct help with the cost of living.

What’s covered is clear: all regulated fares - season tickets, peak commuter returns and off‑peak returns between major cities - with ministers saying more than a billion journeys in England will benefit. Decisions in Scotland and Wales are for devolved governments, and some unregulated tickets, such as certain Advance fares, can still move independently.

Freezing regulated fares also averts an uplift of roughly 4.8% that would normally track July’s RPI - the benchmark often used in fare setting. With transport accounting for around 14% of UK household spending, the move lands where budgets feel it.

Closer to home, the Bradford–Leeds corridor remains one of West Yorkshire’s busiest rail flows. Compiled figures from ORR station data indicate around 779,000 journeys between Bradford Interchange and Leeds in 2023–24 - so even modest per‑person savings add up for the city region.

Passenger watchdog Transport Focus welcomed the announcement, stressing that value for money is the top ask from passengers. “Freezing fares will be extremely welcome news for rail passengers,” said chief executive Alex Robertson.

Campaign for Better Transport said the freeze should help more people choose rail. “Cost is the number one concern… so it is very welcome that fares will be frozen,” said CEO Ben Plowden.

Price isn’t everything, though. The rail regulator’s recent updates still show stubborn reliability issues, with TransPennine Express among operators posting low on‑time scores and elevated cancellations. In Network Rail’s North West & Central region, on‑time performance sat around 63.8% this year - a reminder that passengers want punctuality as much as fair prices.

Ministers frame the freeze as part of wider reform. The Railways Bill was introduced on 5 November to create a publicly owned Great British Railways, bringing track and train under one roof with simpler fares and ticketing. West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin called it “a huge step” towards a simple, reliable network at a reasonable price.

You can already see the shift in West Yorkshire. Northern’s digital pay‑as‑you‑go trial went live on 29 September for Leeds–Harrogate, letting passengers check in and out on a phone and be charged the best fare at day’s end - a local glimpse of the tap‑in, tap‑out future.

What to watch now: the 26 November Budget should lock in the freeze. The government has also promised to publish its ambitions for Northern Powerhouse Rail “soon”, though insiders say announcements could slip into 2026. In parallel, ministers have confirmed extra funding for the TransPennine Route Upgrade and wider transport investment outside London, including West Yorkshire mass transit.

For Northern employers and commuters, the takeaway is straightforward: fares won’t rise next year, but the region still needs punctual services, modern ticketing and long‑promised capacity upgrades. Price relief helps - delivery will matter more.