Rail fares are set to rise again on Thursday as the latest price rise kicks in for passengers across the UK.
On January 2, commuters will see fares jump 1.7%, pushing the average season ticket to above £3,000 for the first time ever.
However, those who plan ahead could see an average of £83 knocked off their annual expense - by booking a day early.
The latest increase means commuters can expect to be paying up £3,067 for their season ticket, up from £2,980 in 2018, according to Labour figures.
But, book before the hike kicks in on Thursday, and you could save £83 on your annual bill.
Rail fares increase at the start of January each year and under government rules are capped at the retail prices index (RPI) rate of inflation from the previous July.
The latest changes mean a £1,500 season ticket will rise by £40.50, while a London to Guildford annual ticket, which typically costs £3,732 will rise by £104 to £3,836.
It means some long-distance commuters could see the annual cost of getting to work increase by more than £100.
Paul Plummer, chief executive of industry body the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), said: "We understand that no one wants to pay more to travel, which is why train companies have for the third year in a row held the average fare increases below inflation while still investing to improve journeys.
"Passengers will benefit from 1,000 extra, improved train carriages and over 1,000 extra weekly services in 2020.
"The industry will continue to push for changes to fares regulations to enable a better range of affordable, mix and match fares and reduced overcrowding on some of the busiest routes."
Union the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) described the hike as a highway robbery.
"Highwayman may be a thing of legends but there is nothing even remotely romantic about our train robber barons," general secretary, Manuel Cortes, said.
"The shop stewards for the privateers, the ill-named Rail Delivery Group, continue to defend the indefensible - fare hikes and profits being extracted from our passengers. The cosy, fleecing cartel running our railways have no shame.
"The Tory Frankenstein experiment of rail privatisation has more than run its course. Passengers are sick to their back teeth of paying for boardroom largesse and eye-watering fares."
