But some rail companies will from today be charging up to RPI plus 3%, meaning journeys out of the region to other parts of the country could be up to 6% higher.
That could mean a return ticket to Manchester – which until yesterday started from £11.10 – will go up by around £50p, about 4.5%.
When the news of the increases broke in August after the latest retail price increase figures were published, Garston and Halewood MP Maria Eagle – who is also Labour’s shadow transport secretary – accused the government of “siding with powerful private train operators against commuters” by allowing them to charge increases of up to 6% (RPI plus 3%) in some cases.
A spokesman for Merseyraill was unavailable for comment, but a statement on Merseyrail’s website said: “The average increase among all daily tickets will be 5p.
“Off-peak fares will go up by around 10p and peak fares, in the region of 20p.
“Merseyrail’s overall average price increase is around 1.5% less than the figure for the average national price hike, which stands at 3.9%.”
The statement added: “Our fares will remain the lowest nationally.”
