I did wonder about the piece quoted in the OP▸ - was it a case of "but there's a serious side to this too"? I mean:
it was intended to be close enough .... but the serious side concerns I noted included:
a) How *would* you measure numbers on services?
b) What to do about people called but missed their boarding call?
c) Overcrowding on The Lawn with bored waiters
d) People going to the pubs while waiting - really good way to fill late trains with drunks?
e) PlusBus pretty useless for late trains - last buses long since gone (useful for earlier people though!)
f) Only offered in one direction - westbound not eastbound
g) Potential safety issue of last minute boarders and would tickets be "disability friendly" or only available to those who could board quickly?
h) People would likely get use to the wait and then get really miffed on days it was longer than average
