by political editor Paul Francis

The Chancellor is said to be coming under pressure to re-think steep rail fare increases facing rail passengers from January next year.

There are reports that George Osborne is being urged by fellow ministers to reconsider plans for ticket prices to go up by an average of 8%.

The increases have been widely criticised and will hit many Kent commuters hard. It follows on from rail ticket increases that were brought in in January, which saw some season ticket prices on Kent routes rise by as much as 13%.

New transport secretary Justine Greening has lobbied the Treasury to announce a rethink in next week’s Autumn statement.

Ms Greening has apparently suggested fares should go up by about 6% – 1% above inflation – to offer some respite to long-suffering travellers.

That could cost the Treasury about £26m.

Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch welcomed the reports. "This is something I and other Kent MPs have called for. Kent commuters have been paying far too much for far too long and if this was to happen, it would be very good news."

Ms Greening’s predecessor, Philip Hammond, admitted recently that the "uncomfortable fact" was that trains were already used by the better-off and some fares were "eye-wateringly expensive".

The costs of season ticket fares are directly regulated by the government.