By Denis Sheehan FIH
The closure of ticket offices in train stations just about typifies how callous the current, and recent, governments are in thinking beyond where their next buck is coming from.
Who when travelling by train has not needed advice at some point, nobody. Who also has not witnessed anti-social behaviour at a train station, or on a train, nobody. Who has not needed advice on the best route to take, nobody. Yet we witness government allowing train operators to point people in the direction of a ticket machine for future assistance in such matters.
From a hospitality perspective alone, how many fewer people will venture into train stations as a consequence of fewer people being available to advise on and safeguard a journey.
The people that find travel most challenging, those limited already by disabilities will of course be those most impacted from the closure of ticket offices in train stations, and fewer people available to aid their journey.
The very thought of imposing such hardships on those who already struggle with many things most people do not have to consider would be alien to anyone with an ounce of integrity, but for those with a steadfast focus on their bottom line, or next position, such thoughts are secondary at best.
Through enabling a less hospitable train network, less people will travel, and less hospitality will be enjoyed. And yes, that includes your hospitality venue.