A CAMPAIGN group says passengers will have to wait until next year to see improvements after the latest rail ticket price hike.

Some commuters will be forced to pay up to £180 more than last year as a result of the government's latest increase in rail fares.

But the chairman of the Witham and Braintree Rail Users’ Association, David Bigg said a lot of passengers know what to expect when each New Year arrives.

He said: "They're resigned to it, they know that a new year means another rise in prices.

"But a lot of them are cute to it and will have renewed season tickets before the rise came in."

Mr Bigg said his association was set to meet with Greater Anglia bosses later this month to discuss expected upgrades for next year.

And he said he was confident that new trains and new timetables would delivered upon.

He said: "Well, the new trains are being built and are currently being trialled in Suffolk so I think it's clear that's going to happen.

"As for new timetables, I have seen some draft versions of what they have planned so progress is being made on that too."

The group's independent figures show the number of trains not on time between Braintree, Witham and Chelmsford rose to 16.1 per cent in 2018 from 15.3 per cent in 2017.

The government price hike means season tickets from Kelvedon have risen by £180, from White Notley by £176 and from Witham by £176.

And Witham MP Priti Patel is demanding operators come through with improvements to justify the rise which came in last week.

Ms Patel said: "With frequent short-formations, delays and cancellations as well as engineering works closing the line on weekends, passengers are not receiving the service they pay for.

"Passengers deserve far better value for money and it is time they start seeing some real improvements to their rail services.

"Both Greater Anglia and Network Rail need to do more to better the service on offer to passengers by limiting disruption caused by signal failures and overrunning engineering works and improve train punctuality."