Just hours left to lock in cheaper train tickets and rail cards ahead of huge inflation-busting hike

MILLIONS of rail travellers will pay more for their train tickets within hours.

Fares will be hiked by 4.6% from Sunday, March 2, adding hundreds of pounds to costs for regular commuters.

Rail fares usually rise annually, by July’s Retail Price Index (RPI) plus one percentage point.

The RPI is a measure of inflation that’s published monthly and is used to measure the change in the cost of retail goods and services.

Rail fares last increased by 4.9% in March 2024 – however this was capped below inflation.

However, this year’s price rises will heap more misery on commuters who cannot drive or walk to work.

The hike applies to fares regulated by the Government, such as season tickets on most commuter journeys and some off-peak return tickets on long-distance routes.

Train companies can set their own ticket prices on unregulated fares.

The current cost of a weekly commute from Oxford to London is £6,396, which will rise to £6,692 from March 2 – £296 more.

Meanwhile, a season ticket from Tunbridge Wells to London will rise by £268 to £6,096.

To avoid the price hike, consider purchasing your season ticket today to lock in last year’s rates for the next 12 months.

If you’re travelling regularly, season tickets can save you cash compared to buying for a journey each day.

For example, a seven-day season ticket is likely to work out cheaper if you do the same journey on three or more days each week – but this can often be difficult to work out.

But if you commute at least five days a week, make the most savings with an annual season ticket.

As well as weekly, monthly and yearly, there is also a flexible season ticket, launched after Covid when more people started working from home, that covers eight days of travel within a 28-day period.

National Rail offers a season ticket calculator which can help you check which ticket it best for your circumstances.

Find out more by visiting nationalrail.co.uk/tickets-railcards-and-offers/ticket-types/season-ticket-calculator.

Other ways to cut the cost of your train tickets

Regular travellers could shave up to 60% off the price of a ticket each time with a railcard.

Those with a 16-25, senior (for over 60s) and “two together” (you and a friend or family member) railcard get a third off rail fares.

Adults with a family and friends card get a third off tickets and 60% off child fares.

Depending on the journey, the savings can outweigh the costs after just a couple of trips.

See railcard.co.uk for more information.

Network Rail releases its timetable 12 weeks in advance, so operators usually make their fares available at this time.

Just like plane tickets, the earlier you book the lower the price you’ll pay for your seat.

Sign up to Trainline’s ticket alert service and it’ll tell you when cheap advance tickets go on sale for a particular journey.

But remember to book your tickets directly with the operator to save the most cash.

You can also use the National Rail’s future travel chart which shows the furthest advance date that you can buy tickets.

If you’re taking a lengthy train journey then you could save hundreds of pounds by splitting your tickets.

You won’t need to change trains and National Rail lets you split your ticket as long as the train you’re on calls at the station you buy the tickets for.

Some ticket sites, like TrainPal, don’t charge a booking fee and splits your tickets for free.

Booking directly through the train company you’re travelling with could save you a bit of cash.

National Rail’s website doesn’t sell tickets – but it does show the cheapest fare for your route and it’ll take you directly to the operator’s site.

Sites like Trainline and Raileasy are popular but charge booking fees of up to £1.75 per journey.

You can find your local train operators official website by visiting www.nationalrail.co.uk/travel-information/find-a-train-company/.