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UK gov't announces first rail fare freeze in 30 years to ease cost of living

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UK gov't announces first rail fare freeze in 30 years to ease cost of living

2025-11-23 16:26 Last Updated At:11-24 14:50

The British government announced on Sunday that rail fares will be frozen for the first time in 30 years to ease the cost of living for millions of commuters.

According to the government's press release, passengers will not be paying a penny more on season tickets, peak returns for commuters and off-peak returns between major cities.

The policy applies to England and services run by English train operating companies.

It comes as the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is reportedly set to deliver a new annual budget on Nov 26, with the latest measure to be included.

Some Britain media outlets have pointed out that the government's move is aimed at garnering greater public support.

The government estimates that move could help each passenger save up to 300 pounds (about 392 U.S. dollars) annually, as transport expenses currently account for about 14 percent of household spending. It is expected to directly limit inflation by holding down a major component of everyday costs.

According to data released by the Office for National Statistics, Britain's inflation rate for October was 3.6 percent. The core inflation rate for October, which excludes food and energy prices, was 3.4 percent, slightly below the previous rate of 3.5 percent, yet still above the policy target of 2 percent.

In addition, the consumer confidence index in Britain saw a significant decline in November, marking the biggest monthly drop since April of this year, according to survey data released by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) on Thursday.

UK gov't announces first rail fare freeze in 30 years to ease cost of living

UK gov't announces first rail fare freeze in 30 years to ease cost of living

The China Media Group (CMG), the country's flagship broadcaster, completed the fifth and final rehearsal of the highly anticipated Spring Festival Gala on Saturday.

A variety of performances were presented, including creative shows, songs and dances, acrobatics, operas, martial arts, sketches and magic tricks, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere.

During the rehearsal, the coordination was impeccably smooth between the main venue in Beijing and four sub-venues, Harbin in northeast China's Heilongjiang, Yiwu in Zhejiang Province and Hefei in Anhui Province, both in east China, and Yibin in Sichuan Province in southwest China. Each of the sub-venues showcased its unique festive traditions and distinctive cultural heritage.

The gala, set to be aired on Chinese New Year's Eve on February 16 this year, will combine traditional Chinese culture with modern stagecraft, as well as cross-cultural performances featuring international artists.

Commonly known as "Chunwan" in Chinese, the gala has been broadcast live every Chinese New Year's Eve since 1983 and has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the most-watched annual television program on the planet.

Just over a year ago, the Spring Festival itself was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Final rehearsal for 2026 Spring Festival Gala completes

Final rehearsal for 2026 Spring Festival Gala completes

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