WE are constantly encouraged to make more use of public transport.

However, on Thursday, January 14, my son, who is at Darlington College, purchased a single journey adult rail ticket costing £4.40 for a journey back to Northallerton. He was then told there were no trains and it also transpired that in the late afternoon the replacement bus service was not running either.

After spending two hours on one of the coldest days of the year at the rail station before he was advised of this, I then travelled through to collect him by car.

When I subsequently inquired of National Rail about a ticket refund, I was informed that as it was unused I am entitled to take the ticket back to Darlington station and obtain a refund.

However, there is an administrative charge – £5 – to pay so I would be another 60p worse off due completely to their fault.

My son, at the age of 17, now intends to buy a car when he has taken his driving test and yet another customer will be lost to public transport for the next 40 years or so.

Encouraged to use public transport? I don’t think so.

Paul Atkin, Northallerton.