Find out how much rail season tickets could cost next year

Even if commuters don't end up feeling the full force of inflation on their season ticket next year, price rises could still add hundreds to the cost of travel.

Season ticket price rises for next year are usually set based on the July inflation figures, which were released this morning. However, with inflation soaring, the Department of Transport has pledged to limit the extent of increases.

The Retail Price Index (RPI) was 12.3% in July, the highest rate since March 1981. Usually the price rise for regulated fares, which make up about 45% of tickets including season ones, is based on this, and would see prices increase by an overall average of this amount plus one percentage point, 13.3%.

If prices had been to rise in line with this pre-pandemic standard, commuters would have seen the cost of their season ticket soar. For example, if you bought an annual season ticket from Reading to London Terminals this week, it would cost you £5,044.

However, if the full regulated fares rise went ahead, that would have meant that price could rise by £671 to £5,715. Similarly, an annual season ticket from Wolverhampton to Birmingham stations could go up from £954 to £1,081, while one from Nailsea and Backwell to Bristol Temple Meads could increase from £1,096 to £1,242.

The cost of travel from Gerrards Cross to London Terminals would have potentially risen by £396 to £3,376, with a possible rise of £156 to £1,328 for travelling from Ely to Cambridge.

Were the full inflation rise to be felt, it could see a season ticket from Tunbridge Wells to London Terminals rise by £698 to £5,946, and one from Rochdale to Manchester stations rise by £167 to £1,423.

An annual season ticket from Redcar East to Newcastle potentially would have gone up from £2,604 to £2,950, while one from Guildford to London St Pancras could increase from £4,084 to £4,627.

The DfT has yet to set out how much the ticket price rise next year will be, only saying that it will be less than July’s RPI figure. Last year, the Government capped the rise at 3.8%, which was July’s RPI without the one percentage point uplift.

In the previous two years, the ticket price rise has been delayed from January to March, which will happen again in 2023. March 2021 saw prices increase by 2.6%, which was in line with the July RPI plus one percentage point formula.

A DfT Spokesperson said: "The government is taking decisive action to reduce the impact inflation will have on rail fares during the cost of living crisis and will not be increasing fares as much as the July RPI figure. We are also again delaying the increase to March 2023, temporarily freezing fares for passengers to travel at a lower price for the entirety of January and February as we continue to take steps to help struggling households."

If the price increase went ahead based on July’s RPI, it would have been the biggest increase for regulated fares since privatisation in 1993. The previous peak was 5.9% in 2009.

But even smaller increases in the ticket price are likely to be painful for commuters. A 5.9% rise, in line with the previous peak, and less than half of the inflation rate, could still see the price of an annual season ticket from Reading to London Terminals rise by £298 from £5,044 to £5,342.

That level of price rises would take a season ticket from Wolverhampton to Birmingham stations from £954 to £1,010, a £56 rise. If the price rise was set at 7.5%, for example, that would be a £378 and £72 increase respectively, and at 9.9%, £499 and £94.

Potential price rises for annual season tickets

Route	Cost the week	13.3% rise	3% rise	5.9% rise	7.5% rise	9.9% rise	12% rise
Reading to London Terminals	£5,044	£5,715	£5,195	£5,342	£5,422	£5,543	£5,649
Wokingham to London Terminals	£4,304	£4,876	£4,433	£4,558	£4,627	£4,730	£4,820
Bracknell to London Terminals	£4,180	£4,736	£4,305	£4,427	£4,494	£4,594	£4,682
Ascot to London Terminals	£4,092	£4,636	£4,215	£4,333	£4,399	£4,497	£4,583
Windsor and Eton Riverside to London Terminals	£3,356	£3,802	£3,457	£3,554	£3,608	£3,688	£3,759
Slough to London Paddington	£2,968	£3,363	£3,057	£3,143	£3,191	£3,262	£3,324
Maidenhead to London Paddington	£3,488	£3,952	£3,593	£3,694	£3,750	£3,833	£3,907
Newbury to London Terminals	£5,044	£5,715	£5,195	£5,342	£5,422	£5,543	£5,649
Windsor and Eton Central to London Paddington	£3,232	£3,662	£3,329	£3,423	£3,474	£3,552	£3,620
Birmingham stations to London Euston	£6,136	£6,952	£6,320	£6,498	£6,596	£6,743	£6,872
Longbridge to Birmingham stations	£875	£991	£901	£927	£941	£962	£980
Erdington to Birmingham stations	£767	£869	£790	£812	£825	£843	£859
Stechford to Birmingham stations	£767	£869	£790	£812	£825	£843	£859
Perry Barr to Birmingham stations	£767	£869	£790	£812	£825	£843	£859
Wolverhampton to London Euston	£6,136	£6,952	£6,320	£6,498	£6,596	£6,743	£6,872
Wolverhampton to Birmingham stations	£954	£1,081	£983	£1,010	£1,025	£1,048	£1,068
Walsall to Birmingham stations	£875	£991	£901	£927	£941	£962	£980
Sandwell and Dudley to Birmingham stations	£875	£991	£901	£927	£941	£962	£980
Old Hill to Birmingham stations	£875	£991	£901	£927	£941	£962	£980
Bristol Temple Meads to London Terminals	£9,312	£10,550	£9,591	£9,861	£10,010	£10,234	£10,429
Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff Central	£3,456	£3,916	£3,560	£3,660	£3,715	£3,798	£3,871
Nailsea and Backwell to Bristol Temple Meads	£1,096	£1,242	£1,129	£1,161	£1,178	£1,205	£1,228
Bristol Parkway to Bristol Temple Meads	£992	£1,124	£1,022	£1,051	£1,066	£1,090	£1,111
Severn Beach to Bristol Temple Meads	£992	£1,124	£1,022	£1,051	£1,066	£1,090	£1,111
Bletchley to London Terminals	£5,092	£5,769	£5,245	£5,392	£5,474	£5,596	£5,703
Aylesbury Vale Parkway to London Marylebone	£4,964	£5,624	£5,113	£5,257	£5,336	£5,455	£5,560
High Wycombe to London Terminals	£4,020	£4,555	£4,141	£4,257	£4,322	£4,418	£4,502
Beaconsfield to London Terminals	£3,592	£4,070	£3,700	£3,804	£3,861	£3,948	£4,023
Gerrards Cross to London Terminals	£2,980	£3,376	£3,069	£3,156	£3,204	£3,275	£3,338
St Neots to London Terminals	£5,716	£6,476	£5,887	£6,053	£6,145	£6,282	£6,402
Cambridge to London Terminals	£5,592	£6,336	£5,760	£5,922	£6,011	£6,146	£6,263
St Neots to Cambridge	£4,596	£5,207	£4,734	£4,867	£4,941	£5,051	£5,148
Kennett to Cambridge	£2,144	£2,429	£2,208	£2,270	£2,305	£2,356	£2,401
Ely to Cambridge	£1,172	£1,328	£1,207	£1,241	£1,260	£1,288	£1,313
Cardiff Central to London Terminals	£12,156	£13,773	£12,521	£12,873	£13,068	£13,359	£13,615
Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads	£3,456	£3,916	£3,560	£3,660	£3,715	£3,798	£3,871
Rhymney to Cardiff Queen Street	£1,100	£1,246	£1,133	£1,165	£1,183	£1,209	£1,232
Ebbw Vale Town to Cardiff	£1,100	£1,246	£1,133	£1,165	£1,183	£1,209	£1,232
Pontypridd to Cardiff Central	£1,100	£1,246	£1,133	£1,165	£1,183	£1,209	£1,232
Coventry to London Euston	£6,136	£6,952	£6,320	£6,498	£6,596	£6,743	£6,872
Warwick to Coventry	£1,628	£1,845	£1,677	£1,724	£1,750	£1,789	£1,823
Rugby to Coventry	£1,044	£1,183	£1,075	£1,106	£1,122	£1,147	£1,169
Coventry to Birmingham stations	£954	£1,081	£983	£1,010	£1,025	£1,048	£1,068
Kenilworth to Coventry	£656	£743	£676	£695	£705	£721	£735
Colchester or Colchester Town to London Terminals	£5,764	£6,531	£5,937	£6,104	£6,196	£6,335	£6,456
Audley End to London Terminals	£4,712	£5,339	£4,853	£4,990	£5,065	£5,178	£5,277
Chelmsford to London Terminals	£4,480	£5,076	£4,614	£4,744	£4,816	£4,924	£5,018
Shenfield to London Liverpool Street	£3,448	£3,907	£3,551	£3,651	£3,707	£3,789	£3,862
Basildon to London Terminals	£3,212	£3,639	£3,308	£3,402	£3,453	£3,530	£3,597
Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street	£4,408	£4,994	£4,540	£4,668	£4,739	£4,844	£4,937
Royston to London Terminals	£5,404	£6,123	£5,566	£5,723	£5,809	£5,939	£6,052
Letchworth Garden City to London Terminals	£4,760	£5,393	£4,903	£5,041	£5,117	£5,231	£5,331
Stevenage to London Terminals	£4,224	£4,786	£4,351	£4,473	£4,541	£4,642	£4,731
St Albans City to London St Pancras	£3,952	£4,478	£4,071	£4,185	£4,248	£4,343	£4,426
Watford Junction to London Terminals	£3,504	£3,970	£3,609	£3,711	£3,767	£3,851	£3,924
Hertford East to London Terminals	£2,932	£3,322	£3,020	£3,105	£3,152	£3,222	£3,284
Bishops Stortford to London Terminals	£4,384	£4,967	£4,516	£4,643	£4,713	£4,818	£4,910
Broadstairs to London Terminals	£6,176	£6,997	£6,361	£6,540	£6,639	£6,787	£6,917
Canterbury East or Canterbury West to London Terminals	£6,112	£6,925	£6,295	£6,473	£6,570	£6,717	£6,845
Tunbridge Wells to London Terminals	£5,248	£5,946	£5,405	£5,558	£5,642	£5,768	£5,878
Sevenoaks to London Terminals	£3,948	£4,473	£4,066	£4,181	£4,244	£4,339	£4,422
Gravesend to London Terminals	£3,912	£4,432	£4,029	£4,143	£4,205	£4,299	£4,381
Maidstone East, West Or Barracks to London Terminals	£5,024	£5,692	£5,175	£5,320	£5,401	£5,521	£5,627
Leeds to Manchester stations	£2,848	£3,227	£2,933	£3,016	£3,062	£3,130	£3,190
Huddersfield to Leeds	£1,516	£1,718	£1,561	£1,605	£1,630	£1,666	£1,698
Micklefield to Leeds	£1,164	£1,319	£1,199	£1,233	£1,251	£1,279	£1,304
Kirkstall Forge to Leeds	£680	£770	£700	£720	£731	£747	£762
Woodlesford to Leeds	£680	£770	£700	£720	£731	£747	£762
Leicester to London	£10,528	£11,928	£10,844	£11,149	£11,318	£11,570	£11,791
Hinckley to Leicester	£2,112	£2,393	£2,175	£2,237	£2,270	£2,321	£2,365
Market Harborough to Leicester	£2,076	£2,352	£2,138	£2,198	£2,232	£2,282	£2,325
Melton Mowbray to Leicester	£1,944	£2,203	£2,002	£2,059	£2,090	£2,136	£2,177
Loughborough to Leicester	£1,264	£1,432	£1,302	£1,339	£1,359	£1,389	£1,416
Southport to Liverpool Lime Street	£1,267	£1,436	£1,305	£1,342	£1,362	£1,393	£1,419
West Kirby to Liverpool Central	£978	£1,108	£1,007	£1,035	£1,051	£1,075	£1,095
Heswall to Liverpool Lime Street	£978	£1,108	£1,007	£1,035	£1,051	£1,075	£1,095
Birkenhead Central to Liverpool Central	£784	£888	£807	£830	£842	£861	£878
Huyton to Liverpool Lime Street	£627	£710	£645	£663	£673	£689	£702
Gidea Park to London Terminals	£2,164	£2,452	£2,229	£2,292	£2,326	£2,378	£2,424
Feltham to London Terminals	£2,160	£2,447	£2,225	£2,287	£2,322	£2,374	£2,419
Sutton to London St Pancras	£1,992	£2,257	£2,052	£2,110	£2,141	£2,189	£2,231
Harrow and Wealdstone to London Victoria	£1,992	£2,257	£2,052	£2,110	£2,141	£2,189	£2,231
Enfield Town to London Terminals	£1,908	£2,162	£1,965	£2,021	£2,051	£2,097	£2,137
Chingford to London Liverpool Street	£1,908	£2,162	£1,965	£2,021	£2,051	£2,097	£2,137
East or West Croydon to London Victoria	£1,792	£2,030	£1,846	£1,898	£1,926	£1,969	£2,007
Richmond to London Terminals	£1,492	£1,690	£1,537	£1,580	£1,604	£1,640	£1,671
Tottenham Hale to London Liverpool Street	£1,116	£1,264	£1,149	£1,182	£1,200	£1,226	£1,250
Stratford to London Liverpool Street	£848	£961	£873	£898	£912	£932	£950
Wigan North Western to Manchester stations	£1,288	£1,459	£1,327	£1,364	£1,385	£1,416	£1,443
Rochdale to Manchester stations	£1,256	£1,423	£1,294	£1,330	£1,350	£1,380	£1,407
Altrincham to Manchester stations	£1,132	£1,283	£1,166	£1,199	£1,217	£1,244	£1,268
Bolton to Manchester stations	£1,140	£1,292	£1,174	£1,207	£1,226	£1,253	£1,277
Stockport to Manchester Oxford Road	£804	£911	£828	£851	£864	£884	£900
Redcar East to Newcastle	£2,604	£2,950	£2,682	£2,758	£2,799	£2,862	£2,916
Alnmouth to Newcastle	£2,376	£2,692	£2,447	£2,516	£2,554	£2,611	£2,661
Seaham to Newcastle	£1,316	£1,491	£1,355	£1,394	£1,415	£1,446	£1,474
Durham to Newcastle	£1,124	£1,273	£1,158	£1,190	£1,208	£1,235	£1,259
Blaydon to Newcastle	£628	£712	£647	£665	£675	£690	£703
Nottingham to London Terminals	£10,772	£12,205	£11,095	£11,408	£11,580	£11,838	£12,065
Newark Castle or Northgate to Nottingham	£1,420	£1,609	£1,463	£1,504	£1,527	£1,561	£1,590
Mansfield to Nottingham	£1,312	£1,486	£1,351	£1,389	£1,410	£1,442	£1,469
Radcliffe-on-trent to Nottingham	£1,124	£1,273	£1,158	£1,190	£1,208	£1,235	£1,259
Attenborough to Nottingham	£540	£612	£556	£572	£581	£593	£605
Guildford to London St Pancras	£4,084	£4,627	£4,207	£4,325	£4,390	£4,488	£4,574
Woking to London Waterloo	£3,664	£4,151	£3,774	£3,880	£3,939	£4,027	£4,104
Reigate to London Terminals	£2,996	£3,394	£3,086	£3,173	£3,221	£3,293	£3,356
Redhill to London Terminals	£2,996	£3,394	£3,086	£3,173	£3,221	£3,293	£3,356
Dorking, Dorking West or Deepdene to London Terminals	£2,996	£3,394	£3,086	£3,173	£3,221	£3,293	£3,356
Brighton to London Terminals	£4,480	£5,076	£4,614	£4,744	£4,816	£4,924	£5,018
Three Bridges to London Terminals	£3,636	£4,120	£3,745	£3,851	£3,909	£3,996	£4,072
East Grinstead to London Terminals	£2,984	£3,381	£3,074	£3,160	£3,208	£3,279	£3,342
Haywards Heath to London Thameslink	£4,312	£4,885	£4,441	£4,566	£4,635	£4,739	£4,829
Eastbourne to London Thameslink	£5,364	£6,077	£5,525	£5,680	£5,766	£5,895	£6,008
Basingstoke to London Terminals	£4,996	£5,660	£5,146	£5,291	£5,371	£5,491	£5,596
Southampton Central to London Thameslink	£5,308	£6,014	£5,467	£5,621	£5,706	£5,833	£5,945
Winchester to London Terminals	£5,792	£6,562	£5,966	£6,134	£6,226	£6,365	£6,487
Farnborough Main or North to London Terminals	£4,396	£4,981	£4,528	£4,655	£4,726	£4,831	£4,924
Fratton to London Thameslink	£5,308	£6,014	£5,467	£5,621	£5,706	£5,833	£5,945