Essex: Train Travellers Delayed

Train travellers, who will face above-inflation fare rises next week, have had to contend with delays to some services between Essex and London after the Christmas break.

Passengers on National Express East Anglia services had to contend with delays of up to 45 minutes between London's Liverpool Street station and Shenfield.

The problem was due to overhead wire problems at Forest Gate in east London on Wednesday. A replacement bus service was operating between Shenfield and Liverpool Street.

From January 2nd, regulated rail fares, which include season tickets, will be rising by an average of 6.0%, with some commuters having to fork out even more than this.

An annual season from Bishop's Stortford to London, for example, rises 7.09% next week.

Pressure group Railfuture said the annual rises were "unfair".

The group's spokesman, Mike Crowhurst, said: "Rail passengers are penalised with increases above inflation every year.

"I don't think motorists or airline passengers will be suffering price hikes like this."