Question Should a public transport service be retained at all costs?

Opinion No. There ARE times where a service should be withdrawn - typically when it's been (or being) replaced by something that's demonstrably better, but on rare occasions where it no longer serves any useful purpose and all options for alternative uses have been explored and tried.

So that means that I INCLUDE in services that should be withdrawn:

a) A service that's provided at infrequent intervals by one train operating company, when another train operating company steps in and provides a much more frequent regular interval service.  Things like where the two services go, peak timings, first and last trains need especial attention.

b) A service to a facility that's no longer operational - for example if a sports stadium is relocated and the old one is knocked down, then perhaps the services can be withdrawn once it's clear that there is no appropraiet new use such as park and ride

c) Where a facility has been replaced with something better.   I saw the forelorne old train ferry loading ramp at Dunkerque on Sunday; with trains now running directly through the Channel Tunnel, it is reasonable for the train ferry to have been withdrawn.

But I EXCLUDE from my list:

d) Passenger services of lines with heavy freight traffic where the main purpose of the withdrawal is to release more freight paths.

e) Withdrawal of a well used (and growing) passenger service where there is no adequate alternative

f) Withdrawl of a service which has been poorly used because of dreadful timing of services and/or lack of publicity and/or because it's got a ereputation for being unreliable - "always the first service to be cancelled".