An angry commuter has launched a campaign against “scandalous” train fare increases which will come into force from January.

Chris Irvine, of St Williams Way, Rochester, said he spends about 10 per cent of his annual wage on travelling to and from London for work.

Mr Irvine, a records clerk from Chatham, said: “I pay about £3,250 a year just to get to work.

“It’s ridiculous to be doing this in a recession. Anything they did in the budget is being blown right out of the water.”

He added that his family of four was already struggling to pay the bills, even with two wages coming in. “I can’t imagine how people on single incomes are coping,” he said.

But a spokesman for Southeastern said: “We realise and understand that fare increases are never popular.

“But our fares are regulated by government, so we are just implementing policy.”

The increase is based on the Retail Price Index plus three per cent formula set out in the rail company’s franchise agreement with the Department for Transport which was awarded in April 2006.

How could the fare rises affect you?

• Southeastern’s non-Travelcard weekly season ticket from Strood to London will rise by 17.9 per cent from £64 to £75.50.

• The same ticket from Gillingham to London will increase by 10.2 per cent from £68.50 to £75.50 and from £68.50 to £75.70 for those travelling from Chatham.

• The lowest increase is 9.5 per cent taking prices for Rochester commuters from £68.50 to £75.