Sir - I went last week to Oxford station to book a ticket for future travel and was surprised to see the advanced booking office closed.

When I asked when it would be open, the staff said it was closing permanently from September.

I have always used the office as the staff are nothing but helpful and ensure you get the best train and the lowest price possible. They do a magnificent job with tourists who are not familiar with the rail system and often have complicated journeys planned. In future, it is proposed that you buy your advanced ticket from the existing counter but no additional positions are planned. The ticket queues at Oxford are legendary in their length and with the best will in the world with 50 or 60 people behind you, the ticket staff will not be able to supply the level of service provided by the separate office.

You will have to know the exact train you want, rather than have the options explained to you. It is difficult enough to obtain train times on the telephone, as the operators in India are not familiar with even the names of towns you want to visit and anyone who has tried to order tickets online will know what a Herculean task it is and often doomed to frustrated failure.

First Great Western claim to care for their customers, well if they do they ought to cancel the closure and keep this beneficial service in operation.

P. Hornby, Oxford