Southeastern have today announced fare rises for 2015 – although they are in the fourth paragraph of the press release, and blamed on the Chancellor.

Yet again Sevenoaks fares are going up by more than average. The average increase for regulated fares is 2.2%; but the BBC says the Sevenoaks to London Annual Season ticket will rise from £3208 to £3288 – 2.5%.

Sevenoaks and nearby stations already have fares to London which are around 20 percent higher per mile than the average of comparable London commuter towns served by other train operating companies (see graph and detailed table).  Across the London network Southeastern fares appear significantly higher than other operators. This further above-average increase is unwarranted and unacceptable.

Although Southeastern have frozen non-regulated fares such as Super Off Peak tickets and plan to introduce some Advance tickets (presumably tied to a specific train, so essentially with a big penalty if you miss it), this will be of little comfort to long-suffering over-charged Sevenoaks and Darenth Valley line commuters.

The above-average increase also does nothing to reflect the three years of disruption and crowded trains on most Sevenoaks services during the London Bridge Rebuilding. Although the Chancellor sets the maximum permitted rise for regulated fares, there is nothing to stop Train Companies applying lower increases, freezing fares – or even cutting them to reflect increased efficiency and the cost-savings they are making.

We’d pressed for a fare freeze to reflect the lower service during the London Bridge Rebuilding and a longer-term plan to bring Sevenoaks fares in line with others.

Yet another above-average increase is unwarranted, unfair and unacceptable.