A COMMUTER group has issued a wish list of services wanted from the next operator of Essex’s railways.

A new company will take over the Greater Anglia franchise from National Express in April 2011, with the Government insisting bidders promise faster journeys, better stations and longer trains.

Essex Rail Users Federation is calling for more late-night trains and cheaper parking at stations.

Its main aim is to secure a half-hourly service to every station in the county to boost trains as an alternative to cars.

Chairman Derek Monnery said the group presented a document to the Government, outlining the levels of service passengers expected from the new operator.

He said: “This is almost a manifesto for us. We know we won’t get everything straight away, but we’ve set out short, medium and long-term goals.

“I have given it to the Department for Transport and we will be lobbying all the companies that are bidding to run the line.

“Half-hourly trains may sound a lot, but Transport for London is looking for quarter-hourly services to every London station, so it’s not that unreasonable.”

The document also includes calls for long-term investment projects.

These include an extra platform at Colchester Town station, extending the Crossrail project to Chelmsford, and doubling the amount of tracks on the line from London to Colchester.

Mr Monnery highlighted the 20-year franchise given to Chiltern Railways, which operates trains between London and Birmingham. It is planning to double the amount of track in places, build new stations and create a new line to Oxford.

National Express was told last November it would be stripped of its Greater Anglia franchise three years earlier than expected, and the new franchise holder is set to be announced by the end of the year.

Mr Monnery said he was keeping an open mind about the process, adding how other companies, such as First, Govia and Stagecoach, had suffered problems with their franchises.

He said: “In some ways, National Express has been good and trains are much more reliable now than when they took over.

“It could be a case of better the devil we know.”

** What Essex Rail Users Federation wants **

* Season ticket fares which do not increase by more than inflation, and tighter control on the prices of off-peak fares

* Services to every Essex station every 30 minutes off-peak, and trains later at night

* Improved reliability of trains

* Sunday services to and from Colchester Town and a second platform at the station

* New seats on trains

* Express and semi-fast services from Norwich to London, with more space and catering facilities

* Improved information screens, particularly at London Liverpool Street

* Cheaper car parking at stations

* Improved relations with staff

* A positive long-term approach to investment in infrastructure improvements.