Rail chiefs have defended inflation-busting rail fare increases facing Kent’s rail passengers by claiming they are catching up with other operators.

Train operator Southeastern was among franchise holders who were grilled about their fare rises by a cross-party committee of backbench MPs on Wednesday.

Southeastern managing director Charles Horton told members of the House of Commons transport select committee that there had been historically lower fares in Kent when compared with the rest of the country.

He also said the new fares were part of a policy of balancing the burden of higher fares between travellers and other tax payers.

He said: “In the particular case of Kent, fares were historically lower than some train operators and companies in the south east.”

He went on to say that Southeastern would be paying back an £11million premium to the Government in return for a subsidy of £145million to improve services when the franchise ends in 2014.

The fare hike this year was an attempt to shift more of the burden on to rail users.

“That decision, that balance, is the reason for three per cent [increases] above the Retail Price Index…it is to shift the balance between the taxpayer and the fare payer so in relative terms, the fare payer pays more.”

The terms of Southeastern’s franchise meant that for the first five years of the contract, it was able to set higher fares partly to pay for the introduction of new rolling stock to replace the old slam door trains, he added.

MPs demanded to know if fares would be cut if the rate of inflation went down.

Responding, David Matt, a representative of the national train operators association, said: “If the [Government] formula is applied, the simple answer is yes.”

Rail commuters in Kent have been hit by an increase in fares of between six and eight per cent this year.