The Campaign for Better Transport is calling for a rail fare freeze in 2023 which will be funded through a tax on kerosene on domestic flights which is set at the same rate as petrol and diesel for car drivers.
The body said the move would also help to cut carbon emissions from domestic aviation and raise £1.53bn, enough to fund a rail fare freeze to encourage more people to travel by rail.
The government is due to announce an increase to rail fares tomorrow which is traditionally in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI). But with June’s RPI hitting highs of 11.8 per cent, the Department for Transport (DfT) has said next year’s rise in fares will be delayed until March and will be lower than the RPI figure
Nevertheless, whilst ministers have ruled out a double-digit fare rise next year, it is still unclear how much fares will go up.
Paul Tuohy, chief executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said: “It’s absurd that the government chooses to place no...