ANGRY commuters have blasted the new train fare hike, suggested that the increased price is making it impossible for some people to work in London.

Commuters on their way back to work after the festive season faced an increase of 3.4 per cent on their tickets yesterday - the biggest hike in five years.

Commuters in the Basildon borough were very frustrated by the increase, which could see annual season ticket holders rise by almost £120.

Joe Dale, 22, of Perry Street, Billericay, has been commuting from Billericay to London Liverpool Street for the past four years.

Speaking about the rise, he said: “This is the fifth year it has increased a stupid amount, and I have seen no improvements on my commute.

"If anything, it has got worse over the years with old trains and even the new ones are poorly made and already falling apart.

“The cost is around £3,500 a year. Considering it’s a 30-minute trip, it’s far too much.

"Any young person who wants a career in the city won’t be able to afford it if there from a working class environment.

"In the first year of my job, I had no money after trains, bills and work clothes.”

Carl Roberts, 29, of Tyelands, Billericay, has also seen an around £100 rise in his fares since he begun commuting to London in 2012.

He said: “Fare rises should be in line with wage growth and the CPI measure of inflation.

"Ultimately, the 3.4 per cent rise means I have less to put towards the monthly food shopping, energy bills or savings each month.”

The price hike affects rail operators across the country.

Greater Anglia say the price hike is necessary for their £1.4 billion investment into brand new trains on their network.

"The first new trains will come into service in 2019.

A spokesman said: “Our average fare increase is 3.4 per cent, however, we’re freezing our advance fares.

"The 3.4 per cent increase applies to Government regulated fares, such as season tickets and anytime singles and returns.

"We need to apply this increase, as many of our costs will also increase in line with inflation."

Rail operator c2c also provided comment regarding the latest price rise.

A spokesman for c2c, said: "We understand nobody likes fare increases, but the government sets the fares policy and this money will pay for improvements on both c2c and other rail lines.

"We have invested £40m in passenger improvements over the last 18 months, we signed a contract for new trains last month, and we recently returned to being the UK’s most punctual train operator. 

“Meanwhile the amount we are paying the government increases by over 15 per cent this year and that helps fund Network Rail and other rail investment – all of which supports economic growth."