BUSINESSES bidding for the new Greater Anglia rail franchise must tackle delays and overcrowding and run extra services, according to the Department for Transport.

They will also be required to provide two London to Norwich in 90 minute services in each direction every day.

The Department for Transport has released its franchise specification following a three-month consultation.

It states the new operator must improve customer service and experience, deliver better trains and stations, tackle overcrowding and improve fares information and ticketing.

The survey, completed by 1,304 people, showed punctuality and capacity is a priority for a quarter of passengers.

The vision for the new franchise states it must: Improve journey times, including the London to Norwich in 90 minutes service n Improve rolling stock – bring trains up to a modern standard including Wi-Fi and getting rid of toilets emptying into the track n Improve customer experience n Improve stations, with a long-term investment approach The report came at the same time as an announcement that train fares will rise by 1.1 per cent next year, the smallest increase in six years.

The new fares will come in on January 2.

Derek Monnery, chairman of the Essex Rail Users Federation, said: “I am encouraged by what the DfT is saying and what they are expecting from bidders.

“They seem to be well aware of the problems and what the deficiencies are with the current rail service.

“Perhaps they didn’t have the whole picture before, but we have sat down with them in meetings and tried to educate them a bit more about the details.”

Current provide Abellio has teamed up with Stagecoach to reapply for the franchise, and FirstGroup and National Express are also in the running.

The franchise will begin in October next year and run until 2025, with a possible one-year extension.