There were sighs of relief in train carriages across the county this week as Chancellor George Osborne announced a cap on next year’s rail fares.

It is barely three weeks, since commuters braced themselves for an average 3.5% increase in January, after the Government announced the July retail price index inflation level on which fare rises are calculated.

Under the pricing formula, train companies were allowed to increase the fares on average by inflation (2.5%) plus 1%.

But Mr Osborne declared on Sunday that he would freeze rises to just the cost of living rise - saving passengers 1%.

In addition, the train companies had been allowed to operate flexible increases, putting some fares up by an additional 2%, as long as other increases were lower and the average rule was not breached.

Mr Osborne said he was scrapping that leeway.

It is this second concession that is thought to be particularly useful to Kent commuters: the busy London commuting lines were rumoured to be in line for the full 5.5% increase.

Tracey Crouch, the MP for Chatham and Aylesford said she had personally raised the issue of rail affordability with Mr Osborne and was delighted with his decision.

She estimated commuters from West Malling to London would now pay £115 a year less than they would have. Those from Maidstone to London £120 less than they were going to.

She said: “This freeze in real terms will bring some welcome relief to many rail users worrying about how they were going to balance budgets at a time when the economy is still in recovery.”

Other savings: Strood £110; Tonbridge £115; Tunbridge Wells £125 and Sevenoaks £95.