RAIL commuters across the West will benefit from the national freeze for train fares announced this March.

For the first time in 30 years, regulated rail fares across England have been frozen meaning passengers won’t pay a penny more.

Without the freeze, regulated rail fares would have increased by 5.8 per cent and added to the 60 per cent rise experienced nationwide since 2010.

With transport costs making up 14 per cent of household spending, this cost-cutting move will provide real savings for passengers.

To fund more passenger improvements like the historic fares freeze, more action is also being taken to tackle fraud and fare-dodging, saving around £40-million annually.

People travelling three days a week between Bath and Bristol are set to save almost £80 each as a result, compared to what they would have otherwise paid, something which the mayor of the West of England has welcomed.

Mayor of the West of England, Helen Godwin, said: “Rail is a cornerstone of getting the West moving, helping people get around our region and beyond, with five new stations in the works and an ambition for more regular services across our growing regional network.

"This national fares freeze will be warmly welcomed by commuters across our region – alongside efforts to help tackle the cost of living through West of England initiatives including Kids Go Free on buses during the school holidays, which has already put £1.1-million back into families’ pockets in just nine weeks.”

These changes are part of government plans to rebuild a publicly owned railway that they say the country can rely on and be proud of.

Their Railways Bill will create Great British Railways (GBR) to run and manage the tracks and trains used every day, ending years of fragmentation, driving up standards for passengers, and making journey easier and better value for money.