For the second year running, commuters in some areas of Bexley will face huge hikes in their rail fares.

Those using stations such as Bexleyheath and Belvedere to get to work will see the cost of their weekly season ticket rise by 11.6 per cent in the new year, from £28.50 to £31.80.

This comes on top of a 13.5 per cent rise in January this year, when the same season ticket, then £25.10, rose by £3.40.

Announcing the rises, train company Southeastern said the average rise across its area would be eight per cent, in line with its franchise agreement to use the retail Price Index plus three per cent.

And it warned while some fares would rise by less than the average, others would have to rise by more.

The latest rises have been condemned by Bexleyheath and Crayford MP David Evennett and Belvedere councillor David Leaf.

Councillor Leaf mounted a campaign against last January’s rises.

As a result, Southeastern public affairs manager Mike Gibson told Cllr Leaf: “We are sympathetic to the position of stations such as Belvedere where, due to our being obliged to implement a zonal fares system, the increase was larger than average.

“We will therefore look to mitigate any increase at such stations next year.”

Cllr Leaf then wrote to Southeastern in July asking about next January’s rises.

He was told by its contracts manager, Joe Kerrigan, the rise in January this year had been “a one-off event for the sole purpose of enabling Southeastern to complete the zonalisation of its London fares, which was an obligation under its franchise agreement”.

Cllr Leaf says the announcement of another huge rise in the New Year is “a promise which has clearly been broken”.

Mr Evennett said: “The scale of these rises in unacceptable.

“After 13.5 per cent increases in January this year, the Government has allowed another massive increase.

“When families are struggling through the economic crisis, such massive fare increases will cause even more difficulties.”

When asked why Belvedere and other Bexley stations faced a second huge fares hike in January, Mr Gibson said: “We understand no-one likes to pay more and it is up to us to demonstrate value for money.

“Since taking over the franchise we have introduced additional service, train performance is the best since records began and complaints are down.”