Rail passengers in Britain face a potential fare increase of up to 4.2 per cent from March next year following new inflation figures.
The potential rise would add £219 to an annual season ticket from Brighton, a major commuter city in East Sussex, to London, taking the total price to £5,423 before travel on the London Underground is included.
Passengers using a flexi ticket to commute two days a week over a year between Leeds and Manchester, across one of northern England's busiest rail routes, would also see costs increase by £151.35 to £3,754.95.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government froze regulated rail fares this year, but Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has yet to confirm whether he will also impose a freeze.
If he does not, any fare increase in 2027 will be calculated based on the Retail Price Index measure of inflation up to last month.
Inflation rates and fare caps
The Office for National Statistics, the UK's official statistical body, announced yesterday that the Retail Price Index rose by 3.2 per cent in the 12 months to July 2026.
Last year's fare cap of 4.6 per cent was set at one percentage point above the Retail Price Index in July 2024. If ministers use that same formula to set next year's rise, the cost of train travel will jump by 4.2 per cent.
About 45 per cent of fares across Britain's railway network are regulated by Westminster, alongside the Scottish and Welsh governments.
Regulated fares include season tickets on most commuter journeys, selected off-peak return tickets on long-distance routes, and flexible tickets for travel around major cities.
Government response
Unregulated fares are set directly by individual train operators, but increases in these are expected to be similar across the network.
A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: "We are working to make transport affordable for everyone."
The spokesman added: "The rail fares freeze is giving millions of people breathing space on their travel costs and is expected to save passengers on some of the busiest routes more than £300 a year."
"No decision has been made on fares after the freeze ends and we are looking at all options carefully," the spokesman said.
