Commuters struggling to cope with above-inflation new year rail fare rises were faced with more misery when station car park charges increased by up to 33 per cent.
The rises were branded a ‘rip off’ by unions and one passenger group said commuters had been hit with a ‘double whammy’.
Southeastern, which runs services between London and Kent and Sussex, raised daily charges at 28 stations – many up by 50p or £1.
For example, the cost of parking for the day at Robertsbridge station in East Sussex has jumped by £1 to £4 – a 33 per cent rise. Not all companies are introducing inflation-busting rises – First Capital Connect has increased the price of a parking season ticket at Arlesey station in Bedfordshire by £27 to £925, up 3 per cent.