Rail fares in England to increase by up to 5.9% in March

Government says it has made its biggest ever intervention to keep rise below inflation, but Labour condemns sick joke'

Rail fares in England will rise by up to 5.9% in March after what the government called its biggest ever intervention" to keep the cost of travel below soaring inflation.

It is the first time in more than 25 years that regulated rail fares have increased by less than inflation. The leap in the cost of rail travel, the biggest in the last decade, will take effect from 5 March.