Beeching Cuts

I got excited about this until I discovered there is very little new and to my mind something quite destabilizing (for Network Rail) in the bevvy of announcements made about the future of rail including this story line. The article I read tells us:

Rail lines closed during the notorious Beeching cuts of the 1960s could be reopened, the Transport Secretary has announced.

Chris Grayling said he wants to identify which routes would boost the economy, encourage house-building and ease overcrowding.

Restoring lost capacity is one of a number of reforms featured in the Government’s new rail strategy.

There are plans to split the troubled Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise when the current contract with Govia Thameslink Railway comes to an end in 2021.

A public consultation has been opened on splitting up the Great Western Railway franchise. It is proposed that one franchise would focus on regional services and another on long-distance routes.

The strategy also includes publicly-owned Network Rail sharing its responsibility for running the tracks with private train operators.

Joint teams managing day-to-day operations will be rolled out across the South Eastern network with a new Alliance Director being introduced to take overall responsibility.

Mr Grayling said: “The last few years have seen massive growth on Britain’s railways. This industry has reversed decades of decline under British Rail, delivered new investment and new trains, and doubled the number of passengers.”