The tension between making use of new technology to provide public services and save money, versus protecting people’s job security, has been highlighted once again as London Underground considers running trains without drivers and closing most ticket offices.

With more people travelling with smartcards, there is a reduced need to use ticket offices on the Underground, which would support these proposals.

However they are still used, and certain groups of people, such as visitors to the city, or the elderly, may be significantly impaired by the lack of support at stations.

This would be a way to force those who are not yet comfortable with technology to learn and adapt to this modern age. While providing no option but to change will undoubtedly be a difficult process, it could open further opportunities and benefits for the future.

Since the only way forward seems to be an increase in automation, perhaps critics should stop wasting their efforts on opposition and focus them instead on adjusting.