Speaking as a customer, I would like to see tickets offices open for longer, I don't like using TVMs as I regard them as job thiefs also I worry about losing my money inside one.
The TVMs aren't going to tell me if the train is late nor will it have a friendly chat with me when not busy.
Remember when trains stole jobs from canal operators. Do you seriously still use cash? How quaint. Departure boards tell you (and everyone else) when the train is late.
Seems you want your fellow passenger to subsidise your chats?
Perhaps ticket windows should remain, but attract a premium to pay for the cost of the ticket office, equipment, and staff to have a friendly chat. Same with ticket machines in carparks, especially ones that take cash, which cost far more to maintain, and attract vandalism. Charge a premium over those bought via an app.
The payments to DfT started off low and increase over the franchise period which is part of the issue (DfT payment now ramping up) combined with more home working.
Don't they have to put up bonds for future payments to ensure the entire amount promised is paid?
Imagine the following (absurd) situations
TOC A says "pay us £1b a year to run this line for 3 years, then I'll pay you £5b a year for the next 3 years".
TOC B says "pay us £500m a year to run this line for 6 years".
Sounds good right? £12b total from TOC A, but costs £1.5b for TOC B
TOC A then hands the keys back after 3 years and walks off with £3b in their pockets
Surely there are protections against that? Although wasn't this how the Virgin East Coast debacle went down?