SUSSEX commuters have hit back at the Prime Minister defending inflation busting hikes in train fairs.

Theresa May yesterday said rises in regulated fares were justified because investment was needed to the country’s railways.

But Sussex rail passengers who saw their tickets go up by around 3.5% on January 2 and will be faced with a further strike on Southern services today were less than impressed.

An annual season ticket from Brighton to London St Pancras, Blackfriars or City Thameslink rose from £3,832.00 to £3,968.00 on January 2 and Hove MP Peter Kyle blamed the government for the “insulting” rise to prices.

Speaking to BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show Sunday, Mrs May said: “Since privatisation, usage of the railways has doubled and we have seen the biggest investments since Victorian times in our railways.

“A lot of people rely on our railways, we want to see good service on our railways but that does mean that investment is needed.”

Commenting to Mrs May’s remarks on The Argus website Daisy Blue said: “I understand she gets driven everywhere at in a fancy car with an escort all at our expense, but you’d think the least she could do would be to not insult us.

“With the (Brexit related) fall in the pound causing inflation to rise and a pay freeze for many, prices are rising too rapidly - especially if you take into account the service. GTR don’t have to worry about customer satisfaction given that failing Grayling pays them regardless such is the southern contract.”

Pebble counter added: “I think we all know that it is completely unjustified. Get this government out of power as soon as we can.”

Today, commuters will again be affected by strike as conductors from the RMT Union take industrial action unhappy over Southern’s plan to remove conductors from trains.

Southern said that most services will operate normally. In a statement on their website Southern said: “The full Gatwick Express and Thameslink service is expected to operate on all routes.”

See the Argus website to see the extent of the disruption.