Demos are taking place at Kent stations, including Strood

by Jess Banham

Rail fare protests have taken place at Kent stations this morning as commuters prepare for another inflation-busting price hike.

Demos were held at Chatham, Dover Priory, Gillingham and Strood stations ahead of an announcement on ticket price increases.

Next January's fares are based on July's inflation rate - revealed today as 3.2% - plus a further 3%.

That will leave the average UK passenger forking out 6.2% more to travel from next year.

But 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.

It is not yet known if Southeastern - Kent's rail operator - will be among these firms.

If the biggest possible increase is imposed in Canterbury, for example, season tickets could go up from £4,588 to £5,046.

Meanwhile, services from Kent into London were heavily disrupted this morning after someone was hit by a train at Charing Cross.

Three of the platforms were closed, leaving many trains diverted, delayed or cancelled.

Passenger group Campaign for Better Transport had wanted the hike 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.

"The real difficulty is when you're trying to combine it with things like the cost of childcare. If you’ve been on maternity leave and you’re returning to work, the combined cost of child care and commuting can be really unaffordable."

Michael Roberts, chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) said: "The government decides the average increase of
commuter ticket prices and other regulated fares which train companies
will be required to introduce in January 2013.

"It has been government policy during the past eight years for passengers to pay a larger share of the cost of operating the railways and to focus taxpayers’ money on investing in longer term improvements to the network.

"Any flexibility train companies have within the rules is to maximise
revenue for the government."