THE Essex Rail Users’ Federation says more than 4,000 peak-hour train seats will be lost when Abellio takes over the Great Anglia franchise.

It says 15 four-car trains will be taken out of service as part of the deal the Government has agreed.

Chairman Derek Monnery said the new agreement would mean increasing numbers of Essex commuters being forced to stand for all or part of their journey.

He said: “Abellio appears to have won the franchise by cutting out trains that are needed to avoid standing.

“This is a poor start and will outrage many train travellers.

“Rail users will feel betrayed by the Government, which seems more interested in squeezing money out of hard-pressed commuters than giving them the service they rightly deserve.”

Dutch firm Abellio will take over from National Express East Anglia in February.

The franchise, which in-cludes trains from Southend Victoria to Liverpool Street, will be up for grabs again after two-and-a-half years.

No one from Abellio was available to comment.