So, farewell then Wrexham & Shropshire. Words like ‘plucky’ spring to mind – it was a small operator taking on the biggest, snaking around their main hubs, and passengers had genuine fondness for the service and the staff.

But profits never quite followed, and today it has been axed with almost immediate effect, after only around three years in operation. This will have a real chilling effect on any other potential open access provider with a bright idea.

Passengers will miss the customer service and the prices, but they do mostly have other (faster) options involving changes at the Midlands’ bigger rail hubs, and at least the company is ceasing operation without leaving creditors high and dry or staff on the scrapheap.

A sad day, nonetheless.