RAIL company c2c’s move to “simplify” tickets has been blasted as a fare increase “by stealth”.

The Shoebury to London rail operator revealed a raft of changes earlier this week to make travel “more flexible” but commuters and councillors have been left frustrated.

Changes include a new evening peak time between 4pm and 7pm and revised fares so that all single tickets are priced at half the equivalent return in both peak and off-peak times.

Daniel Cowan, Southend Labour group leader, said: “I’m concerned this is going to make rail travel less accessible and I don’t think that this is ‘simplifying’ things as is being claimed.

“I actually think it’s an increase by stealth to fares with a peak service time between 6pm and 7pm and withdrawing super off peak. I think that’s going to make travel into London more expensive and people will find alternatives.”

The new evening peak time will be on weekdays for services leaving from or going through London in zones one to six.

Andrew Baggott, Basildon Council Conservative leader, said the changes are “counter-intuitive”.

“From a Basildon point of view it seems a bit recursive. At a time when people are being told to get off the streets and to use more public transport, it seems it is becoming more difficult to do that.

“It’s especially strange considering the current cost-of-living crisis and the changes seem to be at odds with bus companies who are doing the exact opposite by making travel as cheap as possible.

“In Basildon you can get a bus ticket across Essex to Chelmsford for £2 either way which is exactly what you want if you are trying to convince people to visit towns, so this seems counter-intuitive.”

A c2c spokesman said: “As part of changes to makes fares simpler and more flexible ahead of the introduction of contactless pay as you go, some passengers may find that the price of their journey has changed from December 3. However, the majority of c2c anytime day return tickets, which allow travel during both the morning and evening peak periods, are not affected by the changes and remain available at the same price.

“Moving to single leg pricing is an important step in making sure fares are simpler and meet passenger needs. In moving to a simple two-band peak and off-peak travel periods, Super Off-Peak tickets are being withdrawn from sale with all weekend and bank holiday travel being re-classified as off-peak.”