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Millions of discounted train tickets for half-term activities, weekend getaways and commuting will be up for grabs next week. The week-long Great British Rail Sale, running from 6 to 12 January 2026, will give passengers the chance to save well over 50% on many advance and off-peak tickets.

The reduced fares can be used to travel on thousands of popular routes between 13 January and 25 March 2026. Nearly all train operators are taking part, with routes spanning the length and breadth of Britain.

For those looking to visit museums or schedule meetings in the capital, £10 journeys are on offer from south coast destinations like Portsmouth to London Waterloo – that’s a 59% saving. Or for those planning a quick getaway abroad, journeys from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport will cost just £1.20, down from £2.90.

The sale comes as the government eases the cost of living for hard-working people by freezing rail fares for the first time in 30 years.

The government is also bringing in major reform to Britain’s rail services by establishing Great British Railways (GBR) – the new, nationalised organisation to run the railway. GBR will bring together 17 different organisations under a single directing mind, cutting through bureaucracy to deliver a rail network that passengers can rely on and be proud of.

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said:

The Rail Sale is back – and it means further discounts for passengers as we freeze rail fares for the first time in 3 decades to help ease the cost of living.

We all want to see cheaper rail travel, so whether you’re planning a half-term getaway, or visiting friends or family, this sale offers huge reductions.

It’s all part of our plans to build a railway owned by the public, that works for the public.

This is the fourth year of the Rail Sale, with last year’s sale saving passengers around £8 per journey. Last year, over 1 million tickets were sold, bringing in over £9 million in ticket sale revenue for the industry. 

Travelling by train remains one of the quickest and greenest ways to get around, with the government committed to getting more people onto the railways, cutting carbon emissions and freeing up vital space on our roads for emergency services and freight.

Jacqueline Starr, Executive Chair and CEO of Rail Delivery Group, said:

The Rail Sale gives people even more reasons to choose rail, whether it’s reconnecting with loved ones or exploring new places. Rail continues to play a vital role in the lives of millions, supporting local economies and offering a more sustainable way to travel.

This year’s Rail Sale will offer millions of discounted advance fares across the network from 6 January, giving customers the chance to save on journeys big and small. By making rail travel more accessible, we hope even more people will enjoy the convenience and comfort of travelling by rail.

Patricia Yates, CEO of VisitBritain, said:

The new year provides the perfect opportunity to hop onto a train and explore Britain’s great tourism treasures sustainably, boosting the economy by supporting our fantastic visitor experiences and attractions.

Whether it’s a cultural break in one of our vibrant regional cities, a set jetting stay at a world-famous filming backdrop or the friendly welcome from our picturesque coastal and rural destinations, Britain has something for everyone to enjoy, creating memories of a lifetime for visitors.

Key discounts

Manitoba Hydro rates will rise four per cent on Jan. 1 as part of an interim general rate hike the Public Utilities Board says it has ordered “on an urgent basis because of a severe drought.”

The province’s independent energy regulator ordered Hydro to raise all of its rates except for diesel charges in 2026 at the maximum allowable annual increase, even though the provincial Crown corporation only sought the first of three consecutive annual rate hikes of 3.5 per cent.

“The increase is necessary, on an urgent basis, to protect the financial health of Manitoba Hydro in light of the current drought,” the Public Utilities Board stated in an order published Tuesday afternoon.

“Water inflows into Manitoba Hydro’s watershed are currently near the second-lowest level in 112 years.”

When Manitoba Hydro filed an application for three annual rate hikes of 3.5 per cent, it was expecting a net income of $218 million for the fiscal year that ends on March 31, 2026, the PUB noted in its order.

Now, Hydro expects to lose $409 million during this fiscal year, which represents “a deterioration” of $625 million, the PUB stated.

The board stated it may adjust this increase in a final rate order for Manitoba Hydro’s next three fiscal years. That final order is expected in March 2026, the board stated.

Rate hike will prove challenging: consumers group

In March, when Manitoba Hydro filed sought permission for three annual rate hikes — a compound rate hike of nearly 11 per cent by 2028 — the Crown corporation said it needed the additional funds in order to fix aging infrastructure, increase generating capacity and mitigate the effects of both drought and debt.

In its application to the Public Utilities Board, Hydro said it must spend $31 billion over the next two decades to improve the reliability of its existing infrastructure and expand its capacity to generate electricity to avoid the possibility of winter power shortages.

Some of the infrastructure along Bipole I and Bipole II, two of Hydro’s three main transmission lines, is more than 50 years old, which is “one to three decades past the industry expected service life,” and will alone requires billions worth of upgrades in the coming decades, the corporation wrote in its rate application.

The Consumers Coalition, which represents four Manitoba non-profit organizations, said in a statement a four per cent Hydro rate hike is understandable given the drought conditions but will still prove challenging for many ratepayers.

This fall, the coalition asked the PUB to set a rate hike below 3.5 per cent this year because Hydro failed to show it’s making difficult choices in the face of drought, coalition lawyer Katrine Dilay said.

“Hydro’s costs continue to escalate at rates well above the rate of inflation, and our clients strongly believe Hydro must examine its own costs before seeking increases from its customers,” Dilay said in a statement.

Hydro spokesperson Peter Chura said the four per cent rate hike will cost the average Manitoba household that only uses electricity as a power source an additional $50.40 in 2026, compared to an additional $44.28 for a 3.5 per cent hike.

Chura said the four per cent increase will cost the average Manitoba household that uses electricity for power and to heat their home an additional $96.60 this coming year, compared to an additional $84.60 for a 3.5 per cent increase.

Urgent rate hike follows ‘rate freeze’

Hydro did not seek a rate hike at all for 2025 in a move the NDP government called a “rate freeze.” Dilay and the Progressive Conservative Opposition criticized the decision to forgo additional revenue because of the financial pressures facing the Crown corporation, which is also carrying $25.3 billion in debt.

Drought conditions across the Lake Winnipeg watershed preceded the “rate freeze” and are continuing this winter.

According to Manitoba Infrastructure, the water level on Lake Winnipeg on Monday stood at 712.1 feet above sea level, which is below the water level on this date during 90 per cent of the years since 1981.

Adrien Sala, the minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro, said in a statement the NDP government respects the role the PUB plays “in setting fair rates that maintain Hydro’s affordability while keeping the utility strong through wet and dry years.”

On Instagram, PC Leader Obby Khan taunted the NDP for the rate hike.

“So much for your rate freeze,” the Opposition leader wrote.

WATCH | Manitoba Hydro rates to rise 4 per cent on Jan. 1:

Manitoba Hydro rates to rise 4 per cent on Jan. 1

Manitoba’s provincial regulator says it has ordered an urgent interim increase to help the Crown utility contend with drought.