As UK rail fares increased by 4.9% last week, with the Government citing reduced passenger numbers as a key contributor, commuters are facing another surge in travel costs. Whilst TFL prices are frozen until 2025, commuters travelling into London from outside the capital could be paying up to £215 more a year if they travel by train [1].

Card payments and solutions provider Dojo spoke exclusively with those commuting into London weekly to understand how they are coping with the price increase. With fears that prices could continue to increase, up to 8% if the Government uses the same formula as 2023, Dojo also shares tips on how to spend smarter when commuting.

One commuter had to change her commute completely to save money
Katie, 23 from Hertfordshire travelled to London twice a week from Tring station on the Milton Keynes to Euston LNER route, before the rail fare increased at the start of March.

Katie told Dojo ‘’I was spending £68 a week on train tickets and parking just to get to work, which is £3,536 a year’’.

Katie explained that this commute price wasn’t feasible and with the rail fare increase, she was forced to find a new journey to minimise her spending.

Despite her new commute adding an extra 40 minutes onto her journey, Katie has now changed her commute to travel on the Metropolitan line from Chesham Overground station into Liverpool Street. Paying just £15 a day for her commute, Katie is now saving herself £1,976 a year.

Katie isn’t alone, in their latest report the Department for Transport estimated that around 997,346 passengers commute into London per day, meaning these price increases are likely to have widespread effects on both travel and commuter consumer spending [2].

Dojo reveals tips for commuters amid price increase
A spokesperson from Dojo has revealed the five best tips to save money on your weekly commute.

Create a commute-specific savings pot
For those struggling with the rail fare increase, creating a savings pot that allows you to budget for your month ahead is a great way to set money aside for your commutes. Some banking apps, like Monzo, allow you to separate your account into specific pots. Using a digital wallet like Apple Pay, you can then ensure all of your commuter spending comes out of this specific pot instead of your main account.

Invest in a railcard
There are various railcards available for all ages, from age specific categories like the 26-30 railcard to the Two Together railcard for two people who travel together, railcards can save you a third off every train ticket you purchase. For those who commute weekly, having a railcard should be essential. If you aren’t eligible for a railcard check out other ways to save, like Avanti’s Superfare scheme where you can get heavily reduced price tickets if you can be flexible with train times.

Book ahead of time
For many commuters, office days tend to be the same every week, so get into the habit of pre-booking all of your travel for the month. Although it does require upfront investment and commitment to those times and dates, it can be a good way to save money on your commute overall as tickets are likely to increase closer to the time of travel.

Turn your notifications on for Trainline
Trainline often releases sales or discounts on railcards and train tickets, so ensuring you have the app downloaded and notifications turned on helps you be the first to hear about offers on your travel route.

Consider a flexible season ticket
If you commute once a week, then it’s best just to purchase a day ticket. But for those travelling frequently, purchasing a flexible season ticket is a great money-saving option. For example, travelling two days a week on the Milton Keynes route to London could save £500 a year compared to buying daily tickets or £2,200 compared to purchasing an annual pass [3]. It’s also worth seeing if your employer offers any incentives like purchasing a season ticket outright at a reduced corporate rate, as part of a salary deduction scheme.