Like by far the majority of others (or so it

seems) I do not support the plans to close nearly all ticket offices. But my take on the proposals is slightly different in that I blame the ticket structure that remains in place for the problems. There have been many proposals to reform the ridiculous ticketing system but nobody appears to have the guts to get on and put a plan forward. If I had rocked up to a ticket office and asked for the cheapest return ticket from Birmingham to Bristol the first battle I would have had would have been requesting a particular train, in my case the 1V44 outward and 1E63 return. I suspect that I would have been sold a pair of anytime-day return that would have come in at £228.84 with a limited two-together discount largely on the return journey only. I suspect that the person behind the window would not have had the time or inclination to drill down into the journey and look for alternative available fares in the same way that a ticket machine would also not be capable of. However, by using split ticketing myself online I immediately save a substantial £94. And, as for this proposal that staff would be brought from behind the screens and on to the platform, would they have any interest or ability to find and sell me the cheapest fares available, I suspect not!