Commuters may be finding themselves priced out of catching the train in 2026 as fares could rise by 5.8%. Rail fares are usually calculated by adding one percentage point to July's inflation readings on the retail prices index.
In 2024, the retail prices index (RPI) read that inflation was at 3.6% as of July. This caused ministers to raise the price of rail tickets by 4.6% in March the following year (2025).
With the rising prices on food and other everyday items, people may find themselves struggling to use the train to commute, something that Bruce Williams, a spokesperson for Railfuture said, "It’s ripping off the customer, driving people off the trains and on to our congested road network, which is in no one’s interest."
With the projected rise in fares, commuters can expect annual season tickets from Woking to Leeds to rise from £4260 to £4507 and from Gloucester to Birmingham to rise from £5384 to £5696.
A spokesperson from the Department for Transport had this to say about the potential price increase: "The government is putting passengers at the heart of its plans for public ownership and Great British Railways, delivering the services they deserve and driving growth."
"No decisions have been made on next year’s rail fares, but our aim is that prices balance affordability for both passengers and taxpayers."
