Train ticket prices in England are being frozen in 2026 - but will tube fares in London still rise?

"You might have heard the news that next year, for the first time in 30 years, rail fares across England will be staying exactly the same. The government announced that it would be putting a freeze on regulated fares across the country to 'ease the pressure on household finances and make travelling to work, school or to visit friends and family that bit easier'. But that freeze won't apply all rail fares."

"Great news, right? Well, while it's a good thing for anyone who regularly commutes into London from cities like Milton Keynes, Reading, Bath or Woking, there may not be benefits for Londoners themselves. The price of public transport across London is overseen by the Mayor and City Hall, not central government. The Mayor is yet to reveal any updates on what tube and train fares Londoners will be paying next year, but it's not looking promising."

"On top of that, back in June an edict from the government told TfL that in return for a £2.2bn boost, it should increase prices by the RPI rate of inflation plus one percent every year until 2030. At the moment, it's assumed that the rise in 2026, which would come into effect in March, will be around 5.8 percent. And it's likely that if tube fares increase, so will the price of Travelcards."

Regulated rail fares across England will be frozen next year, the first such freeze in 30 years, but the freeze excludes some fares. Commuters into London from other cities may benefit, while London fares remain controlled by the Mayor and City Hall. City Hall is assessing implications, with concerns that unregulated fares could rise to cover operating costs. A government condition required TfL to increase prices by RPI plus one percent annually in return for a £2.2bn bailout, producing an expected ~5.8% rise in March 2026. Travelcard prices are likely to rise alongside any tube fare increases. Critics warn the policy singles out London.

Read at Time Out London