Can Beeching be Undone?
Dr. Beeching was the Chairman of British Railways in the 1960s when the decision was made to significantly cut back services in order to streamline the system and "save money". Looking back on those times the entire philosophy made a lot more sense then than it does now. The legacy we have is the realization that the UK has no coordinated transport policy. That is what went missing during the 1960s, a period when there was still the time and resources to have made a difference.
The first problem was the simplification of the network. Perfectly usable railway lines were scrapped and the land sold off. What was exactly done with the proceeds of this huge sell off may never be known. Did it build new motorways? You could argue that it did but it is quite probable that they were going to be built anyway and the huge road license fund plus taxes on fuel almost certainly paid for the road system several times over.
The second problem was that nothing was put in place as a public transport alternative. Bus services were introduced and then subject to cutbacks. Today those bus services are better than ever (since Beeching) but still a far cry in efficiency. The permanent rights of way could have been used by dedicated public transport systems (light rail, trams, buses) but key pieces were sold off while other stretches were quietly incorporated into farmland.
The third problem is that only very rarely have provisions been made to integrate the transport system. Heathrow had to wait decades before it was connected by a high speed rail service to London. London itself is supposed to be the railway hub of the nation yet anyone transfering from one terminus to another will know what a hassle it is, particularly with luggage.
The fourth problem is that the railways are now more popular than ever - to the point that it is now considered OK for London's commuters to stand up for journeys of more than half an hour - every working day - and yet still pay for an exhorbitant season ticket that used to be based on the understanding that they would be seated.
Recent discussions on Brumblog suggest that significant expansion could take place if logic and a long term view prevailed. The concept of a European style grand terminus for Birmingham goes against the short term solution of rebuilding New Street Station a second time in 40 years but it certainly makes a lot more sense! Will it happen? Don't hold your breath. Building shopping centers carries a lot more weight than the consideration of how to get people to travel to them!
The first problem was the simplification of the network. Perfectly usable railway lines were scrapped and the land sold off. What was exactly done with the proceeds of this huge sell off may never be known. Did it build new motorways? You could argue that it did but it is quite probable that they were going to be built anyway and the huge road license fund plus taxes on fuel almost certainly paid for the road system several times over.
The second problem was that nothing was put in place as a public transport alternative. Bus services were introduced and then subject to cutbacks. Today those bus services are better than ever (since Beeching) but still a far cry in efficiency. The permanent rights of way could have been used by dedicated public transport systems (light rail, trams, buses) but key pieces were sold off while other stretches were quietly incorporated into farmland.
The third problem is that only very rarely have provisions been made to integrate the transport system. Heathrow had to wait decades before it was connected by a high speed rail service to London. London itself is supposed to be the railway hub of the nation yet anyone transfering from one terminus to another will know what a hassle it is, particularly with luggage.
The fourth problem is that the railways are now more popular than ever - to the point that it is now considered OK for London's commuters to stand up for journeys of more than half an hour - every working day - and yet still pay for an exhorbitant season ticket that used to be based on the understanding that they would be seated.
Recent discussions on Brumblog suggest that significant expansion could take place if logic and a long term view prevailed. The concept of a European style grand terminus for Birmingham goes against the short term solution of rebuilding New Street Station a second time in 40 years but it certainly makes a lot more sense! Will it happen? Don't hold your breath. Building shopping centers carries a lot more weight than the consideration of how to get people to travel to them!
posted by Focalplane at 1:29 PM
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