FREEZING commuters are complaining about the “appalling travelling conditions” on Greater Anglia trains.

Passengers claim they are being subjected to sub zero conditions and their complaints are being supported by the Essex Rail Users Federation.

Secretary Mark Leslie said: "Despite this being raised on innumerable occasions with Greater Anglia we still end up in the mid-winter travelling on Greater Anglia trains that are colder on the inside than the snow covered fields outside.

“We want to know why after all these years it is still happening?

“Greater Anglia are quick enough to raise their fares each year, quick enough to raise their car parking charges well above the rate of inflation, but when it comes to raising the temperature in their compartments during the winter to make the journey on a Greater Anglia train tolerable for their customers there has been no improvement for years and years.”

The federation claims the issue has been raised repeatedly with senior Greater Anglia executive Jonathan Denby and, at last year’s rail user forum, with Greater Anglia’s managing director Jamie Burles.

A spokesman said: “Despite their promises to rectify the situation Greater Anglia commuters are still enduring freezing cold conditions on their journeys to work.”

It is further claimed not only does the heating fail regularly but the air conditioning pumps out cold air.

A spokesman added: “Essex Rail Users Federation raised the issue with MPs Will Quince, Bernard Jenkin, Sir Simon Burns and Priti Patel in the hope that they might come to the assistance of their beleaguered constituents who have to travel to work in these appalling conditions.

“Sir Simon Burns has already advised he is taking the issue up with Greater Anglia.”

A Greater Anglia spokesman said: “We regularly review temperatures on board our trains and fully test the air conditioning and heating on a regular basis, as well as following up on any faults that are reported to us by our customers.

“We also actively encourage our own staff travelling to or from work on the trains to report anything they feel needs to be checked by our technicians.

“As with cars, it takes some time for heating to warm up carriages from cold in the morning.

“We act on specific feedback from our passengers to ensure everyone has a comfortable journey.

“When we receive reports about a carriage being cold, we address this issue as soon as possible.

“We welcome feedback from our customers and stakeholders.”