Rail fares for commuters to rise by up to 5% Labour is calling for "flex" to be scrapped. Mary Creagh, the shadow transport secretary, said: "Rail fares have risen 20 per cent under this Government. David Cameron is doing nothing to tackle the cost of living crisis. Labour would remove the flex and put a tough cap on rail fares. Patrick McLoughlin, the Transport Secretary, said average fares will be "frozen in real terms." "We understand the concerns of rail passengers and realise the impact rail fares can have on household budgets," he said. That is why, for the first time in a decade - most of which was spent under Labour rule - the average regulated fare will be frozen in real terms. Meanwhile we are investing record amounts in new track and trains, as well as better stations. Although the rail industry was privatised in the 1990s, it still attracts up to £6billion in government subsidies every year. But this has not led to a reduction in fares, which are linked to the rate of inflation. Stephen Joseph, from the Campaign for Better Transport, said that the fare rises have the potential to be "toxic" for political parties. Many of the areas where people will be paying more are Tory marginal seats such as Stevenage, Thurrock and Hendon, where Ukip is expected to make significant gains, he said, adding: "We are already seeing people being priced off the railways, which is very sad. Railways should be affordable to people. The campaign wants the Government to use a different measure of inflation as a basis for rail fare rises, the consumer price index, which is running at a lower level and would save commuters hundreds of pounds. A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies, said: "We strongly supported the Chancellor's announcement earlier this month that season tickets would rise on average in line with inflation." Monday's announcement of rail fare rises was delayed for three weeks by the cap announced in the Autumn Statement.