The prospect of paying £2 a minute to travel on the new High Speed One Train Service (HS1) has caused outrage across the county.

Train operator Southeastern’s plan to increase fares by around 35 per cent have angered train users who feel disillusioned at constant rises in cost.

Also, many who have already bought season tickets for next year are furious they are not valid on the new HS1 service asking: “What have I just paid £236 more for this year then?”

The daily fare for using the 140mph train from Ashford could be as much as £67.55, if the proposal comes in next December.

That would be the equivalent of paying nearly £2 a minute to travel and is £10 higher than the lowest return fare currently available on Eurostar to travel to Paris.

The increase could also see the costs of a yearly season ticket rise to as much as £5,358 - that is £1,389 more than now.

Marden commuter

Commuter Mark Barnes from Marden said: “Every year they put the prices up. Their excuse is they need to raise more funds to pay for this high speed link. What will next year's excuse be when this is complete?

“Do they know or even care that there is a credit crunch and were all struggling for money?

"I bought my monthly ticket last week and in bold it says on it " NOT VALID ON HS1 ". So why am I paying for it?”

Gravesend commuter

Richard from Gravesend said: “Pretty much shocking. My new yearly ticket shows the same text: “NA on HS1”. So what have I just paid £236 more for this year?

“I don’t see more carriages? I don’t see more trains? I do see me getting later every day. It really gets me.”

Canada

Commenting from Canada, Greg who used to live in Ramsgate said: “Why is it that just when things are looking up for an area a light at the end of the tunnel can be seen only for the greedy asses from Southeastern? They have decided to ruin any hope for a positive outlook in a time when all else looks miserable right now.

“I can fly from Canada to the U.K and back for a third of the price.”

• The £2-a-minute train journey to London