COMMUTERS have slammed a rail fare increase which came into effect in the new year.

Rail operator Greater Anglia has raised ticket prices by an average of 4.2 per cent in line with a Government cap. Since 2008 a season ticket from Colchester to Liverpool Street has gone up by 21.8 per cent from £3,740 to £4,556, with an increase this year of 4.11 per cent from £4,376.

But passengers have spoken out against the increase, saying there is no improvement in service to justify the rise.

A Greater Anglia spokesman said: “Annual fare rises help to maintain investment in the railways and are determined largely by government policy as confirmed in the Autumn Statement.”

  • Read more, including reaction from rail passengers, in Wednesday's Gazette.