Watford commuters can expect to pay more for train tickets from Sunday.

London Northwestern Railway has shared reminders that prices are set rise on March 3 over the course of this week.

It comes after the announcement from the Department for Transport(DfT) in December last year that it had set a cap of 4.9 per cent for increases in regulated fares, allowing the rise from the start of this month.

Regulated fares cover season tickets on most commuter journeys, some off-peak return tickets on long-distance routes, and flexible tickets for travel around major cities.

The maximum fare increase means an annual season ticket between Watford Junction and London Euston could go from costing £3,712 to £3,894, while the same ticket between Kings Langley and London Euston could rise from £3,880 to £4,071.

Commuters travelling between Bushey and London Euston could see a rise from £2,976 to £3,122.

The cost of monthly season tickets would also increase. From Watford Junction, Kings Langley and Bushey to Euston, they would cost £373.87, £390.76, and £299.70 respectively.

In December, the government described the 4.9 per cent figure as the result of “significant intervention to cap next year’s rail fare increase”.

Last July’s Retail Prices Index measure of inflation, which is traditionally used to determine annual fare rises, was 9%.

But the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), which is a more commonly used inflation figure, was 3.9% in November last year.

Watford Observer: Watford Junction sign.Watford Junction sign. (Image: Will Durrant/LDRS)The March 2023 cap on increases in regulated fares was 5.9%.

Because the rises are capped, the maximum increase tends to be applied by operators each year.

They decide unregulated fare rises themselves, although operator finances are closely controlled by the DfT.

In January London mayor Sadiq Khan announced that TfL fares will be frozen until March 2025, paid for by allocating £123 million of Greater London Authority funding.

National Rail journeys within the capital will still be rising.

London Northwestern Railway has advised commuters that they can still take advantage of the current advance fare prices and book at the existing price before Sunday to dodge the spike.