A rail users' group has attacked a fare price increase announced by train operator First Great Eastern - while passengers face misery from emergency timetables.

The Rail Passengers Committee of Eastern England said the rise of up to 3.3 per cent in some fares and at least 2.4 per cent in most others from January 7, 2001, is above the current inflation rate.

Chairman of the RPC's great eastern sub committee, Brian Cooke, said: "This is a particularly insensitive time to impose a large price rise. Many Great Eastern commuters are still suffering from journey times that have more than doubled and are on overcrowded and uncomfortable trains.

"The earliest date that they will get a better service is now estimated to be January 15 and Railtrack estimate that some speed restrictions will remain in place until the early summer."

He added: "For passengers to pay an above-inflation rise at this time seems like a complete smack in the teeth."

Mr Cooke said the Rail Passengers committee had asked First Great Eastern to withdraw or at least postpone the fares rise until after the service had returned to normal.

But he added the RPC believed an above-inflation price rise should not be imposed even if the current speed restrictions were not enforced.

Mr Cooke said: "If the number of people using the railway is to continue to grow, the train operators must seriously look at moderating future price rises."

The fares rise will come into operation days after a complete stoppage of trains into Liverpool Street to allow Railtrack to carry out works.

Mr Cooke added: "Just a few days after being forced on to buses for part of their journey, many passengers will have to pay more for a service that will still be running on an emergency timetable with vastly increased journey times."

By Julia Gregory

Reporter's e-mail: julia_gregory@thisisessex.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.