Commuters fear a new short-term rail contract will discourage any investment in services.

Braintree district rail users who travel from Witham to London have welcomed news that National Express East Anglia (NXEA) has lost its deal operating train services in Essex.

However, some fear a new 17-month contract is too short to encourage investment in services or enable any improvements to take place.

NXEA failed to make it onto a shortlist drawn-up by the Government to operate rail routes in the region from February.

The new short-term East Anglia contract - officially known as the Greater Anglia franchise - is due to start on February 5, with an option to extend it for a year.

See the WBT for the full story.