Does the UK have some of the most expensive train tickets in Europe?published at 20:16 British Summer Time 28 June
By Gerry Georgieva
A few moments ago, the co-leader of the Green Party Adrian Ramsay said: “We have some of the most expensive rail prices in Europe.”
Comparing train fares across countries is difficult because prices differ depending on a number of factors, including the distance travelled, when the journey is taken and how far in advance tickets are bought.
A European Commission report did try, external to compare fares across Europe in 2016. It found the UK had the most expensive inter-city fares for peak single tickets - the fourth most expensive regional, peak, single fares bought on the day of travel - and the third most expensive if bought a week or a month in advance.
For off-peak travel, UK return regional fares were close to the average for Europe.
Since 2016, rail fares in the UK have increased by 35%, external - the fourth highest increase in Europe, external, after Lithuania (63%), Sweden (40%), and Poland (36%). The EU-average increase was 12%.