Pensioners will be slapped with the largest price hike to annual railcards in 12 years under changes being put forward by Labour.
Under the senior railcard, older Britons are able to get a third off their train travel costs and only need to pay £30. However, this is set to be reformed.
It is understood the Government is preparing to raise the annual price by £5 from next year to £35.
Campaigners have slammed this 17 per cent rise, which is significantly higher than the current rate of inflation, claiming it “beggar’s belief”.
However, it should be noted the hike is subject to an industry proposal.
Furthermore, other railcards for those aged between 16 to 25 and 26 to 30 will also be raised by £5.
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Changes are coming to senior railcards will see pensioners pay more
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The only concessionary railcard to not see its cost raised will be the one reserved for disabled people.
Across England, Wales and Scotland, around seven million people own a railcard.
Michael Solomon Williams, head of campaigns for Campaign for Better Transport, is urging the Government to reconsider its decision-making.
He explained: “At a time when we desperately need people to be taking the train instead of driving, it beggars belief that the Government has chosen to hike the cost of a railcard by the highest rate since the 1970s and increase rail fares above inflation next year – all while choosing to keep the fuel duty freeze.
“Making public transport affordable has to be central to plans to address the climate emergency and help people with the cost of living, so we strongly urge the Government to rethink this decision.”
Despite this opposition, the Department for Transport has claimed railcards still offer sizable savings to commuters.
A Government spokesman said: “Railcards will continue to offer significant value for money, with the average railcard holder saving £158 annually.
“We are striking the right balance for passengers and taxpayers, while delivering on long-term plans to get our railways back on a good financial footing.”
Commuters get a third-off train travel through the senior rail card
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Outside of railcards, regulated rail fares in England are set to go up by 4.6 per cent next year.
This price hike is one percentage point above July’s retail prices index (RPI) measure of inflation.
As of 2013, regulated train fares have only been raised above the RPI inflation rate once.
However, the Government has claimed next year’s price increase will be “the lowest absolute increase in three years”.
