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<p>We know that passengers are concerned about the cost of fares. That is why we have
capped regulated fares at the level of the Retail Price Index (RPI) for two years
running, and will continue to do so for the life of this parliament. It is also why
over the past two years we have reduced the level of non-cumulative ‘flex’, by which
operators could in each year increase individual regulated fares above the permitted
average, from the 5% introduced by Labour to 2% in 2014 and 0% in 2015, and will continue
this 0% policy to stop operators increasing individual fares above the now permitted
average level of RPI for the life of this parliament. The fares rise for January 2016
will be based on July 2015’s RPI. The cost to the Government of capping regulated
rail fares at RPI+0% for the next five years is estimated to be around £700m (in nominal
prices).</p>
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