Rail revival ‘reverses Beeching cuts’
RAIL passengers across Britain will benefit from a £500million Government campaign to reverse many of the Beeching cuts of the Sixties.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps yesterday kickstarted the process by pledging to spend £22million on new stations and today he was due to visit Fleetwood to discuss reopening train lines in Lancashire.
More than 5,000 miles of track and 2,300 stations were closed between 1964 and 1970, following a report by British Railways chairman Dr Richard Beeching.
Mr Shapps said: “Many communities still live with the scars that came from the closure of their local railway more than five decades ago.
“Today sees work begin to undo the damage of the Beeching cuts by restoring local railways and stations to their former glory.
“Investing in transport links is essential to levelling up access to opportunities across the country, ensuring our regions are better connected, local economies flourish and more than half a century of isolation is undone.”
Ten new stations have already been opened across England and Wales as part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s pre-election pledge to end the isolation of many communities by restoring rail links.
Meanwhile Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris visited Bedlington Station in Northumberland, to announce £1.5 million for the return of some services in the county.
He said: “This is an exciting moment as we look to revitalise our railways, reconnect communities and reinvigorate our country.”