March 01, 2026 - 197 views
Rail passengers across North Wales will see ticket prices held at current levels for the next year after Transport for Wales confirmed a fare freeze from 1 March.
The announcement, made by First Minister Eluned Morgan, means all fares on Transport for Wales services — including advance singles, returns and tap in, tap out journeys — will remain unchanged for 12 months.
For communities along the North Wales Coast line, from Holyhead through Llandudno Junction and Colwyn Bay to Chester, the move offers some certainty at a time when many households are still feeling cost-of-living pressures. The same applies to passengers on the Conwy Valley and Cambrian lines, where rail links are a vital connection for work, education and tourism.
While much of the recent £1.1 billion investment in rail infrastructure has focused on the South Wales Metro, North Wales has also seen significant improvements. A £800 million programme of new trains is being rolled out across the Wales and Borders network, bringing modern, higher-capacity services onto routes serving the region.
The new fleets are designed to increase capacity by around 80 per cent compared with older rolling stock, alongside improved accessibility and reliability.
Passengers in North Wales are also set to benefit from the expansion of TfW’s tap in, tap out system — currently operating in south east Wales — which is due to be introduced more widely across the network. TfW became the first operator outside London to introduce the simplified pay-as-you-go model, aimed at making short and regular journeys cheaper and easier.
The fare freeze comes as rail usage continues to recover and grow across Wales. In North Wales, improved service frequency on key corridors and ongoing station enhancements have formed part of a broader push to strengthen public transport links across the region.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates said the freeze complements wider efforts to make travel more affordable, including bus fare initiatives and support for younger passengers.
For North Wales travellers — whether commuting along the coast, heading into Chester or Manchester, or welcoming visitors into the region — the decision means rail fares will not rise this spring, offering a boost as the region looks ahead to another busy tourism season and continued investment in its transport network.
