EAST Anglian train operator 'one' railway is aiming to raise standards this year by recruiting more than 120 new staff.Roles will be created in various departments, including in the ticket office, on platforms, in cleaning, revenue protection, driving and customer service centres and some on-train roles.

RAIL passengers in East Anglia are today facing good and bad news as the new year starts.

Fares go up tomorrow by an average of 4.3 per cent for tickets bought on the day - but train operator 'one' has announced it is taking on 120 more staff to make life easier for passengers.

Roles will be created in various departments, including in the ticket office, on platforms, in cleaning, revenue protection, driving and customer service centres and some on-train roles.

The company says it aims to improve the quality and consistency of service over the next 12 months.

Outgoing managing director Dominic Booth - who left the company yesterday - said: 'one' is committed to delivering a high quality and continually improving service for our passengers across East Anglia.

“This investment in over 120 additional employees across the 'one' network, in all aspects of service delivery experienced by our customers, illustrates our clear focus on making train travel a more convenient, comfortable and enjoyable experience.

“By directly addressing those areas which we know have the greatest impact on travellers' journeys and which customers highlight as important to them in their feedback through research and correspondence, we hope passengers will see a visible improvement in service standards.”

Throughout the year, 60 extra revenue protection inspectors will be employed to improve security and reduce fare evasion.

A further 10 vacancies will be filled at ticket offices to reduce queuing and 13 cleaners will be recruited.

Other recruits include nine platform staff at London Liverpool Street and eight new employees at the Customer Service Centre in Norwich.

On the Norwich to London mainline intercity services extra at-seat catering in both First Class and standard accommodation will be launched from tomorrow , with an additional nine on-board

Operator 'one' says the move follows successful attempts to improve punctuality and upgrade trains and stations during 2006.