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.

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.”

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