COMMUTERS in Oxfordshire will save about £40 in January after the Government extended a cap on rail ticket rates.

Chancellor George Osborne announced on Monday that regulated ticket prices will now increase by no more than 2.5 per cent next year – replacing a planned 3.5 per cent rise in January.

It follows mounting pressure from consumer groups and unions to cap the costs of rail travel.

Andrew McCallum, secretary of the Thames Valley branch of pressure group Railfuture, said: “Rail travel in and from Oxfordshire has grown considerably in recent years and this announcement benefits existing commuters and should also encourage others to travel by rail.

“It emphasises the importance of ensuring timely completion of projects such as the opening of Oxford Parkway [Water Eaton], improving Didcot station and the comprehensive rebuilding of Oxford station.”

Under previous announcements made in August, fares would have risen by 3.5 per cent in the New Year.

That would have led to an increase of more than £160 for season tickets from Oxford to London Paddington.

Now it will be about £117 – or roughly £4,788, up from the current £4,671.

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