I have long admired Lindsay Hoyle, the Chorley MP.

But then, last week we had this from him in a debate at Westminster Hall:

“I shall start by talking about free bus travel for pensioners, which started with local authority free travel, and has been extended to a nationwide local bus scheme. That important scheme has been a huge success, and has transformed pensioners’ lives. It allows them to get out and visit, to have healthier lifestyles and to spend the money that it saves them. It is good for the economy, and it is good for us. It has also been good for a local bus manufacturer, Optare, which is reaping the benefits of providing new buses because of the new way in which people are travelling. Public transport is being reinvigorated as people are getting back on to it. We ought to congratulate the Government on that, and I do. I also remind them that when I started the campaign, back in 1997, with a petition in Chorley saying, “We want free local bus travel,” the Government listened. It took them a long time, but they listened and delivered.

Following the success of the free bus travel scheme, I ask the Government to extend it to regional train travel, so that pensioners can also enjoy that. The village where I live, Adlington, has a railway station and trains that connect straight to Preston, Blackpool and Manchester, and people could benefit from free regional train travel.”

Oh dear.

I have nothing against pensioners - or even free bus travel for pensioners if they can’t afford to pay. I will be one myself before too many years. If, when that happens, I am required to take a means test, I will not object at all.

In fact, it is only the fact that I seem to be funding so many of society’s passengers - and I use the word advisedly - that I will even consider taking up my own free travel option.

But for God’s sake, our railways are groaning under a demand which we can’t meet. Please don’t overburden it further!!!!