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Your support makes all the difference.<\/strong>Read more<\/p>\n Regulated train fares in England may increase by 5.8% next year, based on a measure of inflation announced on Wednesday.<\/p>\n The Office for National Statistics said Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation rose to 4.8% in July.<\/p>\n The Government has not confirmed how it will determine the cap on regulated fare rises in 2026, but this year\u2019s 4.6% hike was one percentage point above RPI in July 2024.<\/p>\n If that formula is used to set next year\u2019s fare increase, the cost of train travel will jump by 5.8%.<\/p>\n Train punctuality in Britain<\/a> is at its lowest level in more than five years.<\/p>\n Ben Plowden, chief executive of lobby group Campaign for Better Transport, said: \u201cToday\u2019s inflation figure could mean a big fare rise for rail passengers next year, especially if the Government decides to go with an above-inflation increase like we saw this year.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the railways now moving under public control, the fundamental question for the Government is how to use its role in setting fares policy to deliver a more affordable rail network and encourage more people to travel on it.<\/p>\n \u201cNext year\u2019s annual rise represents the first real opportunity for the Government to show passengers \u2013 both current and future \u2013 just how it plans to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n About 45% of fares on Britain\u2019s railways are regulated by the Westminster<\/a>, Scottish<\/a> and Welsh<\/a> Governments.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The Department for Transport (DfT) said there will be an update on changes to regulated fares later this year.<\/p>\n Operators set rises in unregulated fares, although these are likely to be very close to regulated ticket increases because their decisions are heavily influenced by governments.<\/p>\n Office of Rail and Road figures show trains in Britain reached 66.7% of scheduled stops within a minute of the timetable in the year to July 19.<\/p>\n That is the worst performance since the year to May 30 2020.<\/p>\n Some operators are currently struggling with dry weather.<\/p>\n A lack of moisture in clay soil embankments has disturbed track levels, preventing trains from safely travelling at full speed in parts of south-west and south-east England.<\/p>\n A DfT spokesperson said: \u201cThe Transport Secretary has made clear her number one priority is getting the railways back to a place where people can rely on them.<\/p>\n