Kent's rail passengers face an eight per cent rise in fares next year.

The level of increase is set at three per cent above the July inflation rate
figures, which were announced at five per cent this morning.

Earlier this year Kent's rail passengers saw an average hike in fares from Southeastern of 7.8 per cent, bringing the cost of annual season tickets for many to above £4,000.

Today's announcement comes just weeks after hundreds of commuters across the county signed a petition against proposed increases in rail fares.

Campaigners from Fair Fares Now stood outside railway stations calling for support.

The petition calls on the government, which is reviewing the whole rail fare structure, not to allow prices to rise by 28 per cent over the next three years.

The increase would see the cost of an annual season ticket from, say, Sittingbourne to London rise by £352.19 to £4,700.19.

Campaign for Better Transport, which is behind Fair Fares Now, argues that expensive train prices are not only a rotten deal for passengers, who are forced to pay more each year, but harmful to the environment as more people chose to travel by road instead of rail.

It could also be bad for business as high fares could price people out of jobs in London.

Campaigning group Passenger Focus has also hit out at the fare rises.

David Sidebottom, Passenger Focus director, said: "The way that train companies are allowed to set fares on individual routes is deeply unfair.

"Some passengers, who may have seen no investment or improvements, can get hit year after year.

"Passenger Focus will forcefully advocate change to this system in the Government's forthcoming fares review."

He said the government's commitment that the inflation-busting rises would end after the next three years was welcomed, but it would still mean passengers digging deep until then.

Train firm Southeastern blamed the fare rises on government policy.

A spokesman said: "We recognise no one likes to pay more, and fare increases are always unpopular.

"But the cost of season ticket fares are directly regulated by the Government. It's their stated policy that passengers should pay more towards the cost of their journey and taxpayers contribute less.

"So subsidy paid to Southeastern by the Department for Transport to operate rail services in this area decreases in line with passengers' fares increasing."