Rail passengers on commuter routes into London could face hefty fare increases in the new year forecast to add hundreds of pounds to season tickets even while inflation is falling.

It comes amid growing passenger criticism of services often hobbled by strikes, delays, cancellations and timetable cutbacks.

Yearly national rail ticket price rises are normally closely linked to Retail Price Index inflation, as measured the previous July.

But last year as inflation soared, ministers ditched the RPI formula - plus or minus one per cent - to avoid a massive 12.3 per cent increase.

Instead, they pegged that fare rise to average earnings growth and came up with a ticket hike figure of 5.9 per cent, delayed from January until March.

At the time, the Government insisted the new method of calculation was “for this year only” - and now faces a similar dilemma, with the RPI in June at 10.7 per cent, which has since fallen slightly.

The Department for Transport says ministers seek to “strike a balance between supporting mainline passengers and keeping our railways running”, however officials are still weighing up how to levy the new year fare hikes.

The Leader podcast’s joined by Christian Wolmar, transport journalist and presenter of the Calling All Stations podcast, who’s written an analysis on the subject for Thursday’s Evening Standard.

So, is it still possible to find commuter season ticket bargains?

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