Kent MPs are set to meet transport minister Theresa Villiers today to step up their calls for Southeastern trains to be denied a two-year extension to its contract.

The question of whether Southeastern should be offered an extension from 2012 is expected to dominate the meeting at Westminster.

Also on the agenda will be the performance of the operator during the big freeze, compensation payments and the higher rail fares facing thousands of commuters that have seen season ticket prices break the £5,000 barrier on some lines.

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The meeting is the latest effort by MPs to pressurise the government over Southeastern, which is expected to be told next month whether it has met the targets that will automatically qualify it for an extension.

That decision will be based on the results of a performance review of the company that, if passed, is legally binding.

Thanet North MP Roger Gale said that commuters would feel aggrieved if the rail operator was given the go-ahead to continue running Kent’s services in the face of the company’s performance.

"If we are saying that Southeastern can have a two-year extension because the service has been satisfactory, then up and down the county, there will be commuters paying high fares who will be extremely angry."

In a letter to Mr Gale, Ms Villiers says "any such extension would be a contractual right and ministers do not have the legal right to refuse an extension if Southeastern passes its review".

Mr Gale said: "We will want to question the minister on the legal powers she has to prevent any extension."

Nearly all of the county's MPs are expected to attend the meeting.