COMMUTERS travelling to London will have to pay almost three per cent more for their travel as rail fares increase.

Year on year businesspeople and rail groups feel the frustration as train ticket prices rise across the country.

Greater Anglia customers will now be paying a minimum of 2.6 per cent more for season tickets, singles and returns.

Annual season tickets between Colchester and London Liverpool Street have risen from £5,264 to £5,412 per year.

Monthly tickets now cost £519 and weeklies £135.

From Clacton to London Liverpool Street an annual season ticket now costs £5,964.

Using the 2.6 per cent rise it is an increase of £155 compared to last year.

From Harwich International an annual ticket will cost £6,148, an increase of £159.

Derek Monnery, chairman of the Essex Rail Users Federation, saidthis must be the last year for increases.: “It has been going on for ten years now and people have had enough.

“If the service was getting better I think it would be less unpalatable.

“This has got to be the last one, it’s got to stop.”

“Things could be a lot better than they are and this just seems to drag on.”

“Another thing that really annoys me is the government is pro road, they haven’t increased petrol duty in years, not even by inflation.

Tom Rowe, from the Colchester Rail Users Group, added: “With the green agenda moving up in public awareness there is no better way to reduce your carbon footprint than using public transport.

“As a commuter, I am sad to hear the prices have increased yet again but investment in our railways is vitally important.”

“Government schemes like flexible season tickets, investment in smarter signals and the replacement of old trains with new rolling stock are very welcome.

“Sadly I still hear of short formed trains last minute cancellations and a perception of declining performance, so more is needed.”

Greater Anglia said 98p in every £1 spent on tickets goes back into the railway for running costs and investment.

A Greater Anglia spokesperson said: “Our average fare increase is just under 2.6 per cent, however we have frozen some of our ticket prices, including all of our advance fares which start from £6 and can be up to 60-70 per cent cheaper than walk-up fares.

“The increase applies to Government regulated fares, such as season tickets and anytime singles and returns.

“We need to apply this increase, as many of our costs will increase by at least 2.8 per cent in line with inflation.”