by political editor Paul Francis

Kent MPs have launched a savage attack on their own government's plans to hike rail fares by more than 6%.

Ranging from "disappointing" to "exploiting", our county's backbenchers have pulled no punches in their reaction to the news of next January's inflation-busting increases.

One MP accused the government of exploiting commuters and using fares as a disguised form of taxation.

Next January’s fares will be based on July’s inflation of 3.2% plus a further 3%.

And some train firms will be allowed to push up fares on some routes by an extra 5% - as long as they impose lower increases elsewhere.

Southeastern, Kent’s rail operator, could be among these firms.

Passenger group Campaign for Better Transport argued fare rises should be capped at 1% above inflation, which was secured for this year’s rail fares by transport secretary Justine Greening.

Richard Hebditch, campaigns manager, said: “It’s really going to be tough for people, it’s about three times the expected increase in wages and actually what we’re doing is simply pricing people off being able to get to work in London.”

He added: “The real difficulty is when you’re trying to combine it with things like the cost of childcare.”

The possibility of a huge fare hike was condemned by several MPs, while Kent County Council said it was unacceptable.

Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch said: “This is very disappointing news for Southeastern passengers who have experienced some of the largest fare rises in the country over the lifetime of the franchise and paid more than their fair share for using the railways.

"At a time when household budgets are stretched, the government and Southeastern have a responsibility to ensure the cost of rail travel remains affordable while delivering better value for money and a 6.2% increase in rail fares must result in the level of service.

"I will continue to press the case for lower fares and improved services”.

Veteran Kent MP Sir John Stanley accused his own government of exploiting commuters.

“It is unreasonable for the government to put up rail fares well above the rate of inflation when most people’s incomes are frozen and in many cases falling.

"It is also unacceptable for the government to exploit commuters as a captive market and use fares as a disguised form of taxation.”

Far from seeing improvements to services, many in west Kent had become worse, he said.

“There have been no improvements whatsoever to Maidstone East services but there has been a serious deterioration.”

Damian Green, Ashford MP and immigration minister, said: "These are tough times for commuters and I sympathise. We need to drive out costs from the railways so that both travellers and taxpayers can feel they are getting a fair deal."

KCC said the increases would place more strain on commuters. Cllr Bryan Sweetland, cabinet member for transport, said: “We are concerned at the serious impact this will have on families in Kent, at a time when household budgets are very tight.

"Any further increase, on top of the proposed 6.2%, would be totally unacceptable.

"We urge Southeastern not to impose any higher increases on top of the basic nationwide increase of inflation +3%. We eventually want to see no increase in rail fares above the level of inflation.”

Rail operators are expected to set out their rail fares for 2013 in the autumn.

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