The benefits of gating are mythical

THE report in your August edition that the Department for Transport is set to reduce its micromanagement of rail franchises was illustrated with a group of passengers trying to pass through an “automatic” ticket barrier. A confused young woman holds her ticket and a bag in one hand, with a tennis racket under the same arm, and another bag on her shoulder, and is showing it to a harassed staff member, as it either did not work or has not been inserted in the slot. Behind her stand...