A train operator has vowed to take action over a shortage of staff at Ely station which has left commuters frustrated.

A train operator has vowed to take action over a shortage of staff at Ely station which has left commuters frustrated.

Abellio Greater Anglia said “every effort” was being made to recruit staff after receiving complaints about the ticket office being closed at peaks times – causing lengthy queues.

Stephen Franklin of Ely said: “The booking office is more often than not closed, due to a ‘staffing incident’-, according to a notice.

“This leaves people wishing to buy a ticket dependent on the automatic machines, which are not to everyone’s liking, or on staff parachuted in from elsewhere, working in the foyer rather than in the office.

“These incomers have been unfailingly courteous and helpful but with the best will in the world they cannot provide the full range of services, working from hand-held machines and without full access to the railway’s computer system.”

Twitter users were also quick to vent their anger, @Doctor_Beaker said: “Greater Anglia – either give up the franchise or run Ely station properly. No machines working and ticket office closed.”

Richard Weavers tweeted: “Huge queues, no-one at ticket office and only one ticket attendant at Ely. Sort it out, this is unacceptable.”

An Abellio Greater Anglia spokesman said: “We are in the process of recruiting staff for the ticket office at Ely station.

“In the meantime we are making every effort to provide temporary cover, with three staff with mobile ticket machines on hand to assist customers, in the mornings and afternoons, seven days a week.

“We apologise to our customers for the occasional need to close the ticket office on some recent occasions.”