TRAIN bosses have reassured customers in Chelmsford that fares will not rise as a result of them clinching a two-year extension to their current deal.

Andy Camp, Greater Anglia’s commercial director, responded to commuters’ comments in last week’s Weekly News article about their deal to run the Great Eastern Main Line being increased to July 2016.

As part of the deal, the firm has said it will spend £20million on a range of improvements including refurbishing more than 100 carriages.

Commuters who spoke to the Weekly News said they were unhappy with the extension being granted - and feared a rise in fares would happen to reinburse the investment.

But Mr Camp said this money when not be clawed back through increasing ticket prices.

He said: “The £20million of customer benefits the contract provides, including a major refresh of our Intercity carriages and other service improvements, is not linked to train fares.

“These are set separately by Government on an annual basis and covered by the regulatory framework for the rail industry, with many fares such as season tickets regulated as part of these arrangements.

“We are absolutely committed to delivering further improvements for rail passengers across the region we serve during the period of the new franchise, and to make good progress with the work already underway to secure further upgrades for East Anglia’s rail network.”

Since taking over the service in 2012, Greater Anglia has been heavily criticised.

This ill-feeling reached a climax earlier this year when the firm came joint last nationally in a Which? customer satisfaction survey.