COMMUTERS in Bexley are facing a price hike of eight per cent in their rail fares next year.

From January 2012, season ticket holders will have to fork out extra cash following a bid by the government to shift rail costs from taxpayers to commuters.

But things could get worse.

Rail firms have the flexibility to increase their regulated fares by a further five per cent as long as all their fares work out on average at the eight per cent increase.

This means Bexley residents could be looking at a 13 per cent rise.

Rail watchdog group Passenger Focus says the flexibility given to rail companies to increase regulated fares is unfair.

Director David Sidebottom said: “Having some fares regulated is clearly in passengers’ interests.

“However, the way train companies are allowed to set fares on individual routes is deeply unfair.

“Some passengers, who may have seen no investment or improvements, can get hit year after year.

“Passenger Focus will forcefully advocate change to this system in the Government’s forthcoming fares review.”

A spokeswoman for Southeastern blames the government’s policy on the fare increase.

She said: “The cost of season tickets is directly regulated by the government.

“It’s government’s stated policy that passengers should pay more towards the cost of their journey and taxpayers contribute less.

“So subsidy paid to Southeastern by the Department for Transport to operate rail services in this area decreases in line with passengers’ fares increasing.”

Further rail increases imposed by Southeastern will be announced in November.

Rail fares in Sidcup and Belvedere

From January next year, an annual season ticket from Sidcup or Belvedere to London will go up from £1,432 to £1546.56.

But if Southeastern decides to impose an extra five percent increase, commuters will be expected to dig deep to find £1618.16