Let’s get back on track The mad decision to close train ticket offices is very bad news – and not just for oldies, says Mary Kenny

There’s been a countrywide campaign to keep local railway ticket offices staffed by human personnel – after the government recommended widespread automation. The online petition to retain ticket staff is open until 18th October (petition.parliament.uk/petitions/636542). If it attracts 100,000 signatures, the matter will be debated in parliament. Ticket offices with real staff are cherished by oldies, especially if rail journeys are complicated. At Walmer, near Deal, the ticket office is such a model of perfection that it has entered into local legend, along with the lady who runs it, Debbie Brooker. Debbie, maternal but glamorous, has been running the Walmer ticket office for 34 years. She cleans it, decorates it with flowers and plants, and maintains a small collection of free books and puzzles for travellers. There’s also an American flag in one corner of the ticket area, along with a display of poppy wreaths, to remember four American servicemen...

I’m afraid this isn’t one of our four free articles available in full, which are set out in the first two rows of the ‘Magazine’ page.
Please click here to find them.

To buy a digital version of this issue for just £2.99, click here