Train passengers face paying hundreds more as rail fares set to soar

Train passengers could be paying hundreds more a year in rail fares as regulated fares rise next year.

According to the latest inflation figures, rail fares could increase by more than 4 per cent in 2027.

That would mean an annual season ticket from Brighton to London rising by £219 to £5,423.

A flexi ticket for travel two days per week over a year from Leeds to Manchester would increase by £151.35 to £3,754.95.

The potential rise is based on the Office for National Statistics announcing that Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation rose to 3.2 per cent in July.

Although the government has not confirmed what it will do about fare rises in 2027, last year’s 4.6 per cent cap was one percentage point above RPI in July 2024.

If that formula is used to set next year’s increase, the cost of train travel will jump by 4.2 per cent.

Regulated rail fares were frozen this year by Keir Starmer’s government.

About 45 per cent of fares on Britain’s railways are regulated by the Westminster, Scottish and Welsh governments.

They include season tickets on most commuter journeys, some off-peak return tickets on long-distance routes, and flexible tickets for travel around major cities.

Unregulated fares are set by operators, but rises in these are expected to be similar.

It comes after Liberal Democrat MP Adam Dance urged Andy Burnham to “look seriously" at cutting rail fares for passengers aged 31 and over.

He cautioned that "there is a real gap in the support available" for commuters as well as holidaymakers once they turn 31, depending on their location nationwide.

Various types of railcards are currently on sale for individuals seeking reduced train fares, offering savings for younger passengers aged between 16 and 30, travellers who are over 60, military veterans and disabled people.

But he stressed once you turn 31 there is “a real gap in the support available” and has called for a nationwide effort to bring down the price of railway journeys.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We are working to make transport affordable for everyone.

“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.”