Verified June 2026
Fare Freeze + TfL Freeze: Net Impact On London Commuters
The National Rail freeze saves you, and TfL caps and Travelcards are frozen too. Only pay-as-you-go Tube singles rose. Six worked commute patterns showing the net.
National Rail (regulated)
0%
Frozen until March 2027. DfT decision.
TfL PAYG singles
+up to 20p
From 1 March 2026. Caps & Travelcards frozen to March 2027.
Buses / Trams (TfL)
0%
Mayor froze bus / tram until July 2026.
6 worked commute scenarios
Outer commute + Zone 1-2 Travelcard add-on (Reading)
Better off · +£340/year
National Rail
London-Reading annual season
Saves £340/year (frozen)
TfL portion
Zone 1-2 Travelcard add-on (frozen)
Frozen until March 2027 (no rise)
Long commute + Zone 1-2 Travelcard add-on (Brighton)
Better off · +£302/year
National Rail
London-Brighton annual season
Saves £302/year (frozen)
TfL portion
Zone 1-2 Travelcard add-on (frozen)
Frozen until March 2027 (no rise)
Inner commute + Zone 1-2 Travelcard add-on (Guildford)
Better off · +£279/year
National Rail
London-Guildford annual season
Saves £279/year (frozen)
TfL portion
Zone 1-2 Travelcard add-on (frozen)
Frozen until March 2027 (no rise)
TfL only (Zone 1-6 annual Travelcard)
No change · £0/year
National Rail
No National Rail leg
No National Rail saving
TfL portion
Zone 1-6 annual Travelcard (frozen)
Frozen until March 2027 (no rise)
Long-distance commute (no TfL) - Cambridge
Better off · +£377/year
National Rail
London-Cambridge annual season
Saves £377/year (frozen)
TfL portion
No TfL portion
No TfL portion
Hybrid worker (flexi season + PAYG Tube)
Better off · +£248/year
National Rail
Flexi season London-Brighton, year (est. ~£400/28d)
Saves £278/year (frozen)
TfL portion
PAYG Tube singles ~3 days/week (est.)
Costs ~£30/year (PAYG singles up to 20p)
Who wins, who loses
| Commute pattern | Net effect 2026 |
|---|---|
| National Rail only (no Tube) | Wins - regulated season frozen, saves the RPI+1 increase |
| National Rail season + Travelcard add-on | Wins - both legs frozen; full rail saving, no TfL rise |
| Season + pay-as-you-go Tube | Wins - rail frozen; only PAYG singles rose (up to 20p) |
| Travelcard only (Tube / Elizabeth Line / Overground) | No change - TfL caps and Travelcards frozen to March 2027 |
| Pay-as-you-go Tube only | Slightly worse off - singles up to 20p; daily cap unchanged |
| TfL bus / tram only | Wins - bus / tram frozen until July 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are National Rail fares frozen but TfL fares increased?
They sit under different authorities. National Rail regulated fares are set by the UK Department for Transport, which announced a 0% cap for 2026 to 2027. TfL fares are set by the Mayor of London under City Hall's budget settlement. In practice both largely froze: TfL kept its caps and all Travelcards frozen until March 2027 and only raised pay-as-you-go single fares (up to 20p each) from 1 March 2026.
If I commute on both, am I better or worse off in 2026?
Most likely better off, and rarely worse off. Your National Rail season is frozen, and TfL caps and Travelcards are frozen too until March 2027. The only TfL fares that rose are pay-as-you-go singles (up to 20p each). So a season-plus-Travelcard commuter is frozen on both legs; only someone who relies on pay-as-you-go Tube travel pays modestly more.