Office closures all about profit

■ THE proposed closure of ticket offices by uncaring railway firms is a ploy to enable greedy bosses to rake in more cash. Thousands will be laid off to make this possible, despite claims of train companies that more staff will be on platforms.

Closing down ticket offices will cause irreparable harm to the most vulnerable in our society – the disabled and elderly. Their needs are being callously disregarded.

It’s no surprise the planned closures are endorsed by this Tory regime which treats the vulnerable as second-class citizens. Sadly, it seems Britain is about to hit the buffers as the fat controller lives on.

Bill Cook, Teignmouth, Devon

■ Despite the protests, it’s my belief the Tories will go ahead with ticket office closures because they know there’s absolutely nothing we can do about it.

The only people they listen to are wealthy donors and influential supporters, of which few, if any, will be affected by this. They claim that closing offices will allow them to put more people on the platform to help and advise passengers. We used to have these, they were called porters. What ever

happened to them?

Sheila Fox Crawley, West Sussex

■ Rishi Sunak has shown himself to be brutishly unsympathetic towards those who oppose the planned closure of ticket offices, a vital service to travellers, in particular, the elderly and disabled. Assurances from railway companies that ticket staff would be relocated to helping

customers on platforms won’t wash either.

There can be no justification to force the public to use machines to buy tickets and deny them the courtesy of engaging with an informed member of staff who can offer them advice.

Michael Smith, Chatham, Kent

■ This government knows full well pensioners are being discriminated against (Mirror, August 15). Just look at the last local council elections when people had to use photo ID which stopped some from voting.

Not all pensioners can use a computer or mobile. My wife can’t use either, so should we be excluded from travelling by train to see our granddaughter in Surrey? The discrimination is so blatant it’s unreal.

Tony Howard, Salford

■ Mick Lynch is right to say the train operators want to “dehumanise” our rail system. This is happening with so many aspects of life now. Everything is done online or by app.

What do ministers think will happen to all these people who will lose their jobs? They’ll have to claim benefits which will cost taxpayers more in the long run.

Colin Baxter, Newcastle

■ This government and their greedy pals are ruining this country. Our schools, hospitals, towns, coastal resorts are run down. Libraries, swimming pools, shops, pubs and so on are closing.

They are quite happy to send taxpayers’ money abroad for one reason or another, but helping to protect our country? No way. I ask that they stop and think before it is too late.

Jean Kesteven, Tadley, Hants

■ Ministers and the rail firms don’t care about vulnerable people who may not be able to travel if their plans to shut ticket halls come to fruition.

All they care about is profit, and if this means some people losing out, then so be it.

David Kenny, Birmingham