TRAIN fares will increase by 1 per cent next year – the lowest price rise since 2010.

The rises, which will come in January, are based on the previous July's rate of Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation, announced by the Office for National Statistics this week.

At the moment, an annual ticket from Braintree to London Liverpool Street will set you back £4,224 but this will increase to £4,266.

From Witham, it costs £4,160, which will increase to £4,201.

This is the lowest rise since 2010, when fares actually decreased.

David Sidebottom, director of transport user watchdog Transport Focus, said: "Fares are set to increase again, but passengers will be relieved to see that fare rises in England are being capped at inflation.

"They will be pleased to see that there is no flexibility for individual fares to go up by more than this. Both of these are things we have pushed for.

"While fares are going up, for many people punctuality is going down. The poor performance in the South East in particular highlights how Network Rail and operators need to deliver a more consistent day-to-day service which passengers can rely on."