A simplified system

Concerns aplenty have been raised at the prospect of ticket office closures (and the lack of knowledge of those who staff them), unreliable ticket vending machines, and inadequate train operating company websites

- all of which discourage the regeneration of business onto the railway.

Development should be under way now of a single, simplified, straightforward online facility to purchase tickets (with all options available). And yes, this will require addressing the complexities of the fare structure.

Rail users should not be required to register and become familiar with a multitude of operators’ websites, with their array of layouts, formats, sequences and terminology, in order to travel around the country.

The choice of operator for any line or service should be of no consequence to the travelling public. Also gone should be the plethora of company branding, ever-changing rolling stock liveries, differing customer service levels, and so on. These have done little, if anything, to attract more people to travel.

Keep it simple and customers will come.

Dave Taylor, London