Rail fares have become less affordable since privatisation, rising faster than wages
Change in price of rail fares and average weekly earnings in the UK since 1995, when privatisation began
+200%
+204%
+182%
+150%
Rail fares
+100%
Wages
+50%
Privatisation
begins
0%
-50%
1995
2005
2015
2025
+200%
+204%
+182%
+150%
Fares became more affordable after privatisation, with rises outpaced by wage growth....
+100%
...but since the 2010s, fares have risen faster than wages, becoming less affordable
+50%
Wages
Rail fares
Privatisation
begins
0%
-50%
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
+200%
+204%
+182%
+150%
Fares became more affordable after privatisation, with rises outpaced by wage growth....
+100%
...but since the 2010s, fares have risen faster than wages, becoming less affordable
+50%
Wages
Rail fares
Privatisation
begins
0%
-50%
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
+200%
+204%
+182%
+150%
Fares became more affordable in the wake of privatisation, with rises outpaced by wage growth....
+100%
...but since the 2010s, fares have risen faster than wages, becoming less affordable
+50%
Wages
Rail fares
Privatisation
begins
0%
-50%
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
+200%
+204%
+182%
+150%
Rail fares
+100%
Wages
+50%
Privatisation
begins
0%
-50%
1995
2005
2015
2025
+200%
+204%
+182%
+150%
Fares became more affordable after privatisation, with rises outpaced by wage growth....
+100%
...but since the 2010s, fares have risen faster than wages, becoming less affordable
+50%
Wages
Rail fares
Privatisation
begins
0%
-50%
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
+200%
+204%
+182%
+150%
Fares became more affordable after privatisation, with rises outpaced by wage growth....
+100%
...but since the 2010s, fares have risen faster than wages, becoming less affordable
+50%
Wages
Rail fares
Privatisation
begins
0%
-50%
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
+200%
+204%
+182%
+150%
Fares became more affordable in the wake of privatisation, with rises outpaced by wage growth....
+100%
...but since the 2010s, fares have risen faster than wages, becoming less affordable
+50%
Wages
Rail fares
Privatisation
begins
0%
-50%
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025