Reversal of Beeching cuts in the region

FIFTEEN more proposals to reverse historical reductions in the rail network have secured development funding – including cash to improve two lines in the Westcountry.

Boris Johnson pledged to “restore many of the rail services lost in the Beeching cuts”.

Among the projects in the South West in the list of 15 is a plan for a station in the Langport/Somerton area of Somerset and improved services from Falmouth.

The Government has previously allocated £500 million towards accessing the feasibility of reopening closed lines and stations.

Ten schemes were given development funding in May, with a further 15 announced yeterday in the National Infrastructure Strategy.

Other projects to benefit from the latest round of funding include reopening Ferryhill station, County Durham; reinstating links between Bolton, Radcliffe and Bury, Greater Manchester; and restoring the link between Stratford-upon-Avon and the Honeybourne/Worcester/Oxford line.

Sim Harris, managing editor of industry newspaper Railnews, described the announcement as “welcome but tantalisingly vague on details, on money and exactly what is proposed”.

He said that the £500 million budget would “barely pay for one short line”.

He added: “They’re going to need quite a few billions to do something like this.”

British Railways chairman Dr Richard Beeching published a report in 1963 which led to the rail network being decimated.

He recommended the closure of more than 6,000 miles of railway and 2,300 stations.