The United Kingdom’s next rail fare rise has been delayed amid the cost of living crisis and will not be higher than inflation. The UK’s Department for Transport (DFT) has promised that it will not increase rail fares for 2023 by the current rate of inflation, due to the current cost of living crisis.

The annual January price increase for England, which was introduced before the coronavirus pandemic emerged, will also again be delayed until March to ease the burden on "struggling households", the Department for Transport announced.

Due to being ‘temporarily frozen’, the inevitable price rise will now not come into effect until next year in a bid to curb heightened pressure on consumer spending.

Retail price index (RPI) inflation is currently 11.8%. It is calculated separately from Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation, which the Bank of England has warned could rise to 13.3% by October, as it forecast a recession surpassing a year to take place by this coming autumn.

Rail passengers saw fares increase by 3.8% in England and Wales earlier this year, which was announced the highest rise in nine years.