I know I complain about the railways, railway companies, railway staff, rail unions, rail passengers, railway stations, in fact everything to do with railways, a little bit. It is an occupational hazard if your occupation involves commuting by train for 20 years.

Today I want to heap a little praise for a change. This year I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that the fare increases had resulted in my season ticket price going down, and then came down with a bump when I forgot about the New Year bank holiday and got my next ticket a day early. There is a twist to the tail, and a happy ending.

Looking at my tickets properly I discovered that the ticket chap at Crawley station actually gave me a new ticket for the one week after the old one expired so I didn’t lose out at all. In spite of my best unconscious efforts to stitch myself up, they made sure I was OK.

It doesn’t quite make up for years of signal failures, leaves on the line, derailments, ticket inspectors waking me up, unexplained delays, crowded carriages, out-of-order toilets and the rest, but at least I shall be going out on a high. Unless they can arrange a spot of misery in the next week for old times’ sake.

I will also miss the chap who sells me my paper in the morning – how does he manage to be so cheerful at 6:45am?