A transport campaigns group has criticised railway companies for charging Kent commuters more for return fares than people travelling from London.

Day return tickets on Southeastern and Southern services, which are both run by under-fire operator Govia, are much more expensive for those travelling from Kent if the time of arrival in the capital is between 7am and 9am.

Currently a return ticket for the 40-mile Maidstone to London commute in this time period costs £36.70.

Going the other way, at the same time, is just £23.70 - a difference of £13.

To add to the confusion a ‘high-speed service’ from London to Maidstone West costs £28.90 - and in some cases takes five minutes longer than the so-called slower service.

The same journey setting off from Maidstone West is £42.50, meaning the County Town’s commuters are forking out £13.60 more.

"What's clear is the rail fares are frequently complex and unwieldy" - James MacColl, Campaign for Better Transport

In Staplehurst, a return ticket to London arriving before 9am costs £27.80, while the other way, commuters pay £4.20 less with a fare of £22.80.

Another example of the ticketing systems’ incoherence is single tickets – they remain at the same price for both Kent and London customers.

Ashford International is another station where the discrepancy is huge. High-speed customers on the 60-mile journey can expect to pay an eye-watering £60.40 compared with £37.80 the other way.

West Malling workers are faced with a return ticket to London costing £23.50, vice versa it is £19.70. Travelling from Tonbridge to London Bridge will cost £22.90, in reverse that’s £20.90.

James MacColl, head of campaigns at the Campaign for Better Transport, said: “What’s clear is the rail fares are frequently complex and unwieldy.

"Passengers often find it difficult to know that they’re getting the best deal as differences between ticket prices are confusing.

“We need the whole process of buying a ticket to be made simpler, fairer and cheaper, with information readily available to people on buying the cheapest option.”

In a statement, Southeastern said: “While regulated fares such as peak-time tickets and season tickets are set by the Department for Transport, not train operating companies, rail fares are set based on demand; the demand for services in to London is greater, and so is reflected in fares which are proportionately higher.

“Train operating companies have more control over the setting of off-peak, or unregulated fares and we have a number of discounts and offers available to passengers.”