Season ticket to Norwich now £1,712

Rail commuters to Norwich and London from Diss will have to meet a higher-than-inflation rise in season ticket prices for 2015.

A season ticket to Norwich will cost £1,712 for the year, up £42 from £1,670 last year, amounting to a 2.5 per cent rise.

Those travelling down to London also face a 2.5 per cent rise, with the 2015 price now £7,132, up from £6,960, which is an increase of £172.

Other fares have increased by 2.1 per cent from last year on average.

A spokesman for Abellio Greater Anglia, the rail operator, said: “Regulated fares such as season tickets increase by 2.5 per cent as the Government confirmed in the Autumn Statement.

“These fares – that are set under the Government formula – account for up to half of all fares.

“We have announced a £31.5m investment programme in improving customer service, train performance and rolling stock as part of our current franchise to October 2016. This includes a £9m upgrade for our Intercity trains.

“We are also working closely with Network Rail to do all we can to improve train service performance. Network Rail is investing £170m to improve the Great Eastern route in 2015.”

Craig Daniels, of Diss, who commuted to Norwich by rail regularly, until recently, said: “I’ve been a regular commuter from Diss to Norwich since October 2008 and despite the annual price rises have seen no real improvement in service, maintenance or efficiency.”