In both the UK and Germany, most rail fares have been frozen for the year ahead, partly to deal with cost-of-living rises generally and to help offset the costs from the effects of the war on Iran.
In the UK, regulated fares, including season passes, Anytime tickets and Off-Peak have been frozen for a year from March, although pay-as-you-go fares on London’s tube services are not included. Bus fares are frozen until July. Advance and Super Off-Peak fares are not regulated, and could rise, but may not for competitive reasons.
Germany’s Deutsche Bahn, under several years of criticism for fare hikes along with notoriously delayed and disrupted service, is trying to turn a corner both on operations and public relations. Its CEO, Evelyn Palla, announced in late April that fares on long-distance trains would not rise for at least a year.
In another move, DB is starting to offer last-minute discounts on unsold seats; each weekend, tickets for unsold seats in the following week will become available for prices as low as €6.99, or possibly even lower for holders of discount cards.
