Who hired Dr Beeching?
Beeching was recruited by the government from a very successful business career at ICI, to make the railways profitable again. By the early 1960s the industry was bleeding millions of pounds a year. His solution was simple – close down the bits that lost the money.
Who closed the railways in the 60s?
Dr Richard Beeching
Dr Richard Beeching is much maligned as the Chairman of the British Railways Board who wielded his axe, closing thousands of miles of railway and stations in the 1960s.
Who destroyed British Railways?
First Beeching Report On 27 March 1963, under orders from Marples, Beeching published his report on the future of the railways, entitled The Reshaping of British Railways. He called for the closure of one-third of the country’s 7,000 railway stations.
Where does the Ivanhoe Line run?
The Ivanhoe line is a railway branch line which runs from Leicester, through south Derbyshire, to Burton upon Trent, but is currently used for freight transport only, having been closed to passengers since 1964.
Does Coalville have a train station?
The first proper Coalville station was opened in 1848 after the line had been taken over by the Midland Railway. This in turn was rebuilt in 1894, being renamed Coalville Town in 1924 to distinguish it from Coalville East on the rival Charnwood Forest Railway.
Why is Beeching cut?
The aim was to cut the mounting debts of the nationalised British Rail by removing duplicated routes and closing the least-used branch lines of the railway. This became known as the Beeching cuts.
When did Dr Beeching AXE the railways?
27 March 1963
On 27 March 1963, under orders from Marples, Beeching published his report on the future of the railways, entitled The Reshaping of British Railways. He called for the closure of one-third of the country’s 7,000 railway stations.
Why is it called Ivanhoe line?
The line takes its name from a popular novel romanticising medieval England. ‘Ivanhoe’ by Sir Walter Scott, is generally set in the region through which the line passes, known today as the National Forest, a designated national park.
What is Coalville famous for?
If you haven’t guessed already, as the name suggests, Coalville is a former mining town. It is also the birthplace of Action Man and Star Wars figurines and Care Bears. In fact, this year we are celebrating 50 years since Action Man was born at Palitoy Ltd of Coalville in 1966.
Where is the Ivanhoe Line?
| Ivanhoe line | |
|---|---|
| Locale | East Midlands |
| Termini | Loughborough Burton upon Trent |
| Stations | 6 |
| Service |
Which lines closed under the Beeching cuts have reopened?
Some lines closed under the Beeching cuts have reopened as private heritage railways. Some examples are East Lancs Railway, Mid Hants Railway, North Yorkshire Moors Railway, North Norfolk Railway and West Somerset Railway .
How much money did Beeching save by closing down?
It has been suggested that by closing almost a third of the network Beeching achieved a saving of just £30 million, whilst overall losses were running in excess of £100 million per year. However, the precise savings from closures are impossible to calculate.
Where can I find media related to Beeching rail closures?
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beeching rail closures. Commons debate on the Beeching Report 29 April 1963, discussing the problematic financial implications of Beeching to councils on the provision of more roads and to industry.
What are the Beeching cuts?
RAIL services axed as part of a costing-cutting initiative named after British Rail chief Dr Richard Beeching who proposed it could now be reinstated. Here we look at how what became known as the Beeching cuts significantly reduced the UK rail network.