It is difficult not to have sympathy with those left furious by plans for a mass closure of railway station ticket offices in England.

It’s another body blow to the industry, felt particularly in our region where the railway was born. In recent years it has been a real problem child, beset by issues which can surely all be traced back to a lack of proper investment.

This latest announcement has come out of the blue and, unsurprisingly, has been widely condemned as the latest example of so-called ‘digital exclusion’.

Disability charities, organisations representing the elderly and trade unions are among those who have voiced their anger at the scheme, claiming it will lead to job losses and put some vulnerable passengers off train travel.

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For many older and disabled people, who have no access to the internet, the ticket office is where they get journey information and the best deals.

It’s claimed the plan will ‘modernise’ customer service.

But let nobody be fooled – the reason this is happening is not to make life easier for travellers, it’s to save money.