Were the Beeching cuts a disaster for Britain?

THE analysis of Dr Richard Beeching was often simplistic and led to closures of lines because the survey used was at the wrong time of year. However, the most serious closures took place under Labour in the later Sixties, some not even proposed by Beeching. For example, the direct route from Manchester to Derby, Nottingham and Leicester should never have closed. In the early Eighties, Transport Minister Kenneth Clarke was happy to close the electrified and faster route between Sheffield and Manchester, followed a little later by the fastest route between Sheffield and Leeds. Sir Peter Parker, chairman of the British Railways Board, wanted a commitment to a rolling programme of electrification. This led to electrification of the East Coast Main Line, but that was all. Although I support the principles behind HS2, those leading the project are again failing to see the wider picture. They should develop an integrated approach and maximise benefits between all the cities in the North and Midlands. david Smith, Sheffield. MANY lines were closed well before Beeching’s report was published. Railways were haemorrhaging freight onto the roads already, as they were much cheaper and in many cases lorries had to take the freight to the stations anyway. With the increases in population today it makes sense to look again at some of the closed lines, but that is not to say Beeching was wrong in closing them in the Sixties. One reason for overcrowding on today’s railway is improvements introduced by Richard Branson and his fellow entrepreneurs, which have attracted more passengers.

Mike Smith, Stafford.