The cost of monthly season tickets should be capped so passengers do not end up paying more than an annual ticket over the course of the year, Colchester's MP has said. 

Will Quince said many could not afford the one-off cost of an annual season ticket if their employers did not offer them a loan.

The Conservative told the Commons he wanted rail operators to take inspiration from the London underground system, where the total cost of journeys in a day is capped at a certain amount.

He said: "There is a substantial discount at present in buying an annual ticket, as opposed to monthly.

"So, if your employer doesn't offer you a season ticket loan, it can be difficult to afford a one-off payment, often in the thousands of pounds, in the case of Colchester to London it's about £5,000.

"So, in my view, passengers shouldn't pay more just because they can't afford such a large amount in one go.

"I would urge the Government just to look into capping season ticket travel as part of new franchises, so that passengers will never pay more than the cost of annual tickets in a single year."