First Great Eastern is to introduce extra trains after the best train-travelling year in the region for a decade.

GER has run more than 54 million passenger journeys over a billion miles in the last year.

And the new move will see an increase in the Chelmsford service from four to five off-peak trains an hour from May 30.

This is made possible by the introduction of a new hourly service between Liverpool Street and Ipswich, which will stop at Shenfield Chelmsford and Witham.

That makes five stopping trains an hour at Chelmsford and four at Witham. Chelmsford will have a half-hourly link with Ipswich and Witham and an hourly through service to the Suffolk county town.

GER managing director Bob Breakwell said: "Business is booming and there is no doubt that the railways and public transport generally are beginning to increase market share."

He said that automatic gates would be introduced at Chelmsford station soon and the new Chelmsford timetable would "take us into the millennium with an unparalleled level of service."

A preserved 50-year-old British Railways slam-door train, painted green and kept at Ilford car sheds, is to be given a day out on June 26.

The "Green Machine", looked after by volunteers and professionals, will run from Liverpool Street via Chelmsford to Clacton and Frinton and then run back and forth between the seaside resorts and Colchester until its final return journey to Liverpool Street, again stopping at Chelmsford.

"This is to promote the frequent summer services to the coast and places of interest in Essex," said GER's Juliet Sharman.

The year 1998-99 has marked the introduction of various improvements:

The metro service between London and Shenfield.

Liverpool Street-Southend fast services all day.

Sunday services enhanced to three trains an hour on main routes.

Journey times reduced.

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