We're not alone. Rural areas all over Britain are finding to their cost that for all the talk of enhancing public transport and coaxing Britons out of their cars, the reality is that crucial transport links are too often being cut.

Ann Sandell, one of KSO's chief contributors and Kirkby Stephen's champion in the battle to save the town's bus services, was featured in last weekend's Sunday Telegraph carrying on the good fight.

Sadly, rather like the journey to the railway station, it's an uphill struggle.