The railway line that should not have been closed: part 3
SNOW Hill Station quickly deteriorated and soon became in the words of local councillors ‘an unsanitary rubbish dump.’ On November 7, 1967, Alderman Charles Simpson, chairman of the Public Works Committee, Birmingham City Council, said that Birmingham was to undertake an immediate study into the possibility of having a ‘rapid transport system’. A week later, on November 15, 1967, BR received ministerial consent to close the Birmingham Snow Hill to Moor Street and Wolverhampton Stafford Road Junction to Wolverhampton Low Level lines for passenger services and also Dunstall Park station.
On November 16, Barbara Castle, Minister of Transport said, “Nothing is predetermined about closing the Snow Hill line and stations. Despite a considerable decline in the use of Snow Hill services, substantial numbers of people still use it, particularly commuters at peak periods. Because of this I consider the complete closure would not only add significantly to the journey times of commuters but would also increase the already considerable road congestion in the area. I ask the BRB to explore economies to reduce its substantial losses on the line whilst still meeting the main traffic demand. Most of the Snow Hill site could be released for redevelopment.
“The Handsworth Junction to Smethwick West link line should remain open to avoid substantial inconvenience to passengers travelling from the Stourbridge Junction direction to intermediate stations on the Snow Hill line.”
However, Mrs Castle thought the withdrawal of passenger services over the two short sections of line, Moor Street to Snow Hill (44 chains) and Low Level to Stafford Road Junction (1m 22chains), would cause no significant hardship as the areas were well covered by extensive local bus services. How wrong she was and so poorly advised. The closures of these stretches of railway were the most spiteful of all the Beeching closures even though the Wolverhampton Low Level route was not in the Beeching Report. The Minister did keep the Langley Green to Snow Hill service in order to avoid inconvenience to passengers from the Stourbridge Junction travelling to intermediate stations on the Snow Hill line. BR’S Divisional Manager stated that the Snow Hill tunnel could not be disposed of without the approval of the Minister of Transport. The consent of closure stated that the Snow Hill tunnel should be retained for possible use by a new rapid transport electric line from Solihull to Wolverhampton. Also consent to Moor Street (exclusive) and Snow Hill (exclusive) was subject to certain conditions relating to the alternatives.
The Minister refused consent to the discontinuance of passenger services between Wolverhampton Low Level and Birmingham Snow Hill, Smethwick West to Handsworth Junction (Birmingham Snow Hill to Langley Green service) and to the closure of the stations at Wolverhampton Low Level, Priestfield, Bilston, Wednesbury, Swan Village, West Bromwich, The Hawthorns (closed officially 29.03.68), Handsworth and Smethwick, Winson Green, Hockley and Birmingham Snow Hill because of their continued usage by passengers. It was planned to reduce Snow Hill Station to two tracks only and redevelop the site. The closure plans brought a storm of protest as many people thought that the reduced service was so poor, eventual closure would be the only outcome. The line from Swan Village to Great Bridge closed on October 9, 1967, and the Swan Village South to Swan Village Gas Works closed on December 4, 1967.
While Snow Hill and Low Level stations were still open for traffic, BR had no qualms about using them when it suited. After the March 6, 1967, alterations, Stourbridge line trains were diverted back into Birmingham Snow Hill several times, the first being May 30, 1967. In December 1967, as a result of congestion caused by bad weather at Birmingham New Street, trains from Cardiff, Hereford and Worcester ran into Snow Hill. During the same period of bad weather in December 1967 and January 1968 on some occasions passengers at Wolverhampton were directed to use Low Level station for the journey to Birmingham.
Closure Notice:
The closure of these stretches of railway were the most spiteful of all the Beeching closures
British Railways Board London Midland Region PUBLIC NOTICE. Transport Act 1962. Modification and Withdrawal of Railway Passenger Services. As previously announced the Minister of Transport gave her decision on 15th November 1967, in regard to the Board’s proposal to withdraw all railway passenger services between Birmingham Moor Street (exclusive) and Stafford Road Junction, Wolverhampton, and between Handsworth Junction and Smethwick West (exclusive). The Minister gave her consent to the closure of Dunstall Park Station and to the discontinuance of passenger services between Wolverhampton (Low Level) (exclusive) and Stafford Road Junction. Consequently the British Railways Board hereby give notice that on and from Monday 4th March 1968, all passenger services will be withdrawn from DUNSTALL PARK STATION and the station closed. Arising from this, passenger train services which hitherto have operated between Wolverhampton (Low Level) and Stafford Road Junction to and from the direction of Shrewsbury and Wellington will from that date be diverted to run into and from Wolverhampton High Level, to the following timetable, the existing service to and from Wolverhampton High Level remaining unaltered.
Wolverhampton High Level 07.20hrs to Wellington, 07.55hrs to Shrewsbury, 12.10 SO to Wellington, 17.00 to Wellington and 17.45 to Shrewsbury. Trains to Wolverhampton: 06.25hrs from Shrewsbury, 07.35hrs from Shrewsbury, 08.15, 13.15 SO, 16.30 and 17.15 from Wellington. The Minister also authorised the discontinuance of passenger services between Birmingham Moor Street (exclusive) and Birmingham Snow Hill (exclusive) and accordingly on and from Monday 4th March 1968, such services will cease the relevant trains which at present run to and from Leamington and Stratford direction into and from Birmingham (Snow Hill) will be diverted to run to and from Birmingham (Moor Street). The trains affected are as follows:-07.25 (SO) Leamington Spa to Birmingham Snow Hill arr 08.17, 07.55 (SX) Leamington Spa to Birmingham Snow Hill arr 08.47, 07.55hrs (SO) Stratford-upon-avon to Birmingham Snow Hill arr 08.58, 08.05 (SX) Stratford-upon-avon to Birmingham Snow Hill arr 08.52. The above on diversion to Moor Street will be scheduled to arrive at that point 1 minute earlier than the present Snow Hill arrival time, times at starting point and intermediate stations remaining unaltered. 17.03 (SO) Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford-upon-avon, 17.45 (SX) Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford-upon-avon, 17.52 Birmingham Snow Hill to Leamington Spa.
The above on diversion to Moor Street will be scheduled to depart from that point at the same time as the present Snow Hill departure time, subsequent times at intermediate stations and destination remaining unaltered. In addition, the Minister in refusing her consent to the closure of all stations from Birmingham (Snow Hill) inclusive to Wolverhampton (Low Level) inclusive understood that the Board would be able to reduce the substantial losses on the line whilst still providing a service which meets the main traffic demand, the Minister further refusing her consent to the withdrawal of passenger services between Handsworth Junction and Smethwick West. To that end the British Railways Board propose on and from Monday, 4th March 1968 to introduce an amended service between Birmingham Snow Hill and Wolverhampton Low Level, with consequent alterations to the existing service between Birmingham Snow Hill and Oldbury and Langley Green, which provides connections to and from the services between Birmingham New Street and stations in the Stourbridge direction. Details of theses new services are as follows:-snow Hill to Oldbury and Langley Green:- 06.30, 07.14, 16.59, 17.38. Snow Hill to Wolverhampton Low Level:- 06.50, 07.32, 08.13, 12.40 SO, 16.25, 17.08, 17.48. Oldbury and Langley Green to Snow Hill:- 06.56, 07.34, 17.21, 18.17. Wolverhampton Low Level to Snow Hill:- 06.53, 07.32, 08.15, 13.50 SO, 16.25, 17.09 17.47.
Snow Hill tunnel had to remain intact.
The Birmingham Post thought that nearly 3,000 commuters would benefit from the reprieve. The paper went on to say that keeping Snow Hill to Low Level was only half a decision but a good one. “There was never any possibility of the Station that was once Birmingham’s pride regaining its former importance after the opening of the great modern station at New Street.” Mr John Morris MP, Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, said, “The decision to keep open at least part of Snow Hill is based on the fact that although there has been a considerable decline in the use of the Snow Hill to Wolverhampton Low Level services, a substantial number of people still use it, particularly at peak periods. Complete closure of Snow Hill would not only add significantly to the journey times of commuters but also increase the already considerable road congestion. BRB will explore possible economies while still maintaining the main traffic demand.”