An MP has blasted plans to change Norwich rail station's ticket office and criticised the impact of privatisation on public services.

Rail users have until Wednesday, July 26 to comment on proposals put forward by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) that would see the closure of almost every ticket office in England. 

The plans would see Norwich's ticket office transform into a Customer Information Centre.

Norwich Evening News: Norwich Railway StationNorwich Railway Station (Image: Newsquest)

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Greater Anglia said the centres will "provide help with complex transactions" and, though changes would be made to opening hours, no alterations would be made to staff availability. 

However, the company refused to confirm if the shake-up would result in any job losses.

"We’ve had almost 40 years of our public services being incrementally forced to behave like businesses and to treat their users as customers," said Norwich South MP Clive Lewis.

"I struggle to think of anything that’s improved as a consequence of that and we’re living through an age in which practically all services are somewhere between decline and collapse."

Norwich Evening News: Norwich South MP Clive LewisNorwich South MP Clive Lewis (Image: UK Parliament)

Local campaigners have hit out at the plans - arguing disabled and elderly people have been "completely ignored".

But the RDG claims just 12pc of train tickets are bought from offices at stations, down from 82pc in 1995.

Passenger numbers nationwide also stand at their lowest since 2002, and revenue lies 30pc below pre-Covid levels.

"The bottom line shouldn’t decide whether a public service is provided," added Mr Lewis.

"If it’s needed it should happen.

"And from what I can see so far, rail users are saying loud and clear that ticket offices must stay."

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Norwich Evening News: Labour's parliamentary candidate for Norwich North, Alice MacdonaldLabour's parliamentary candidate for Norwich North, Alice Macdonald (Image: Alice Macdonald)

Alice Macdonald, Labour's parliamentary candidate for Norwich North, described the proposals as "deeply worrying".

She said: "They will make our stations and trains less accessible for many.

"The consultation period has been far too short and many basic questions still need answering including the impact on disabled passengers, the elderly and on staff.

"We need a new approach to our railways.

"Labour would bring our railways back into public ownership and put passengers first."

Norwich North MP Chloe Smith was also contacted for comment.