KENT commuters have been hit by some of the biggest increases to rail fares in the country.

From this week, Southeastern is upping the cost of regulated fares, including annual season tickets and standard returns, by an average of 6.8 per cent across the county and increasing unregulated fares such as cheap day returns by around 4.8 per cent.

Some areas will be harder hit than others, with an annual season ticket from Canterbury to London rising by more than £300 from £3,132 to £3,480, representing an 11.11 per cent increase - the highest increase in the UK.

The same ticket from Gillingham to the capital will rise from £2,496 to £2,740 - a 9.78 per cent increase.

Commuters across the UK will be affected by above-inflation fare increases from all train operators, but the rail firms insist they are necessary for improvements and that passengers would see the difference on their journeys.

George Muir, director-general of the Association of Train Operating Companies said: "The revenue from fares helps pay for investment that directly benefits passengers.

"Billions of pounds are now being spent to improve the railway and the results are showing through."

But chief executive of Rail consumer watchdog Passenger Focus Chief Anthony Smith said: "A chill wind will blow down many of Britain's platforms when passengers find out their new fares. Steep rises on individual routes are masked by the average figures published by the industry.

"This will lead to passengers having to dig deep into their pockets. These unjustified and unfair rises will rankle."

Southeastern said the increases in Kent, announced at the end of November, will go towards repainting and rebranding all 180 stations on its network by April 2009, doubling off-peak services between London Victoria and Orpington and re-working peak services between London Bridge and Charing Cross, and installing more passenger weighing equipment on trains to help identify and resolve crowding issues.

A spokesman for Southeastern said: "The company recognises that no one likes having to pay more, and naturally fare increases are unpopular.

"But government policy is to recoup more of the cost of the rail service from those who use it, rather than relying on the taxpayer to subsidise it."

He added: "In return for increased revenue, good progress is being made and the quality of service and value for money we're providing to our passengers is improving."