How to Cut Business Rail Travel Costs in 2026

Want to keep your corporate rail travel spend under control in 2026?

With UK fares set to rise by 5.8%, arrangeMY helps organisations reduce costs through smart booking tools, split-ticketing strategies, and dynamic travel policies that make every journey count.

The Challenge: Rail Fare Hikes in 2026

From 2026, rail fares in England are expected to rise by up to 5.8%, following the July RPI increase. That’s an extra £312 per year for some season tickets. For businesses managing multiple rail journeys per week, the cost impact adds up fast.

At arrangeMY, we help our clients stay one step ahead, with smart tools, traveller education, and booking policies that cut costs without compromising flexibility.

Split-Ticketing: Smart Segments = Serious Savings

What is it?

Split-ticketing means buying two or more tickets for separate legs of the same journey.

It’s perfectly legal, and often much cheaper than a through fare.

How arrangeMY helps:

• Our systems automatically identify and apply split-ticket opportunities.
• Travellers board the same train with multiple tickets – no detours required.
• Savings can range from a few pounds to over 30% depending on the route.

Smarter Booking Behaviour: Mix Advance and Anytime

One simple tactic: book an Advance Single for the outbound leg (where timings are fixed) and an Anytime Single for the return (to retain flexibility).

arrangeMY automates this by:

• Highlighting routes where mixing fares offers better value.
• Giving bookers real-time options based on availability and price.

Dynamic Travel Policies: Budget Control Without Rigidity

Rather than enforcing “cheapest fare only” rules, we help clients implement dynamic policies that build in cost tolerance and flexibility.

Example policy:

“Book the cheapest available fare, or an alternative within 25% if it offers better timings or fewer changes.”

Benefits:

• On occasions can allow for 1^st class travel, when compared with a 1^st class advance single vs a standard class anytime single.
• Avoids false savings (e.g. poor travel times or long waits).
• Ensures traveller experience isn’t sacrificed for cost alone.

Season Ticket vs Flexi Ticket Analysis

With hybrid working, daily commuting is declining. The once-default season ticket may no longer offer value.

arrangeMY reviews:

• Traveller frequency and patterns
• Flexi vs season vs off-peak single pricing
• Automatically recommends the best option for each route and employee

Railcards & Group Discounts: Small Details, Big Impact

Many businesses overlook the power of railcards and group fares.

arrangeMY makes this easy:

• Flags when railcards are eligible (e.g. Young Person, Network, Senior, Forces, etc.)
• Applies GroupSave for teams travelling together
• Calculates cost-benefit of railcard purchases based on usage

Encourage Modal Shift: Rail Over Short-Haul Flights

Rail can often be faster and greener than flying for domestic or near-Europe journeys.

We help by:

• Defaulting to rail when it’s time-competitive
• Highlighting CO₂ savings alongside cost in the booking tool
• Supporting sustainable travel goals with custom reporting

Real-Time Fare Monitoring & Booking Prompts

Advance fares offer big savings, but only if you catch them early.

Our solution:

• Monitor fare patterns across frequently booked routes
• Push booking prompts to travellers and bookers before prices rise
• Capture the best fares with no manual tracking required

Ready to Take Control of Rail Costs?

Let us show you how arrangeMY can help your business beat rising rail fares in 2026 and beyond.

👉 Contract our team today

FAQ

Q: How can businesses reduce the cost of rail travel in 2026?
A: Use split-ticketing, book advance fares early, apply dynamic policies, and review season vs flexi tickets regularly. arrangeMY automates all of this to maximise savings.

Q: What is split-ticketing and how does it help?
A: It involves buying multiple tickets for the same journey. arrangeMY’s tech spots these opportunities and books them seamlessly, saving up to 30%.

Q: What is a dynamic travel policy?
A: A rule set that balances cost and flexibility e.g. allowing fares up to 25% above the cheapest if they reduce travel time or improve the traveller experience.

Sources:
Rail fare increase data from The Guardian, published 20 August 2025.