LEAVES on the line, the wrong kind of snow, sun on the tracks, too many people wanting to travel. Our rail network never ceases to amuse and annoy.

It is extraordinary that Middlesbrough station should be closed after the England versus Slovakia game - which is being played within walking distance of the station at the Riverside stadium - because too many people want to travel.

Too many people, not enough trains, station closed for safety reasons. It would be laughable if it wasn't so embarrassing - and, it is little exaggeration to say, so serious.

It is embarrassing because part of the route that is to be closed due to its popularity is the original 1825 Stockton to Darlington Railway. This area was the birthplace of the railways but now our railways are so shabby that there are not enough carriages to carry all the people. There's not enough rolling stock so we are a laughing stock. One hundred years ago, railway companies ran special excursion trains to take as many people as possible (and to make as much money as possible) to sporting events; in the early 21st century they cancel even the scheduled services so absolutely no one can travel by train. That is real progress! That's a really integrated transport system.

This debacle is serious for Middlesbrough. Never again will Middlesbrough be considered for an international event of any great magnitude - even games below full international level are questionable as on Tuesday night 24,000 people (enough to overwhelm a small station) watched England Under 21s play at Hull.

But it goes wider than just sport. What sort of advertisement is this for Middlesbrough? Foreign investors are not going to rush to a town where the infrastructure is so poor that it grinds to a halt at 9.45pm.

It is ironic that the announcement of the station closure came the day before the North-East hopes that Newcastle/Gateshead will be named European Capital of Culture - a bid The Northern Echo sincerely supports.

If the region wins, more than four million extra visitors are expected to spend their money in our shops and restaurants - but we have to hope that no more than a handful find their way to Teesside. Four million! Middlesbrough can't even cope with 35,000 on a quiet Wednesday night. The place will be over-run by tourists unable to leave!

Next week's international should have been a crowning glory for a club reborn and rebuilt less than 20 years after bankruptcy - but it is turning into a serious embarrassment for its town and surrounding area.