Rail fares could soar by 5.8pc next year

REGULATED train fares in England may increase by 5.8% next year, despite punctuality in Britain at its lowest level since 2020.

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The potential rise is based on the Office for National Statistics announcing that Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation rose to 4.8% in July.

The Government has not confirmed how it will determine the cap on regulated fare rises in 2026, but this year’s 4.6% hike was one percentage point above RPI in July 2024.

If that formula is used to set next year’s fare increase, the cost of train travel will jump by 5.8%. That would mean an annual season ticket from Woking to London rising by £247 to £4,507.

A flexi ticket for travel two days per week over a year from Liverpool to Manchester would increase by £120.30 to £2,195.10.