In 1963 Richard Beeching wrote a report for the British government that identified 2,363 stations and 5,000 miles of railway line for closure; 55% of stations and 30% of route miles. Subsequently many small stations were closed. But some survived the cuts and some were even reinstated. Here, Michael Portillo celebrates five of the survivors.
Whitland to Llanelli
Where: South Wales
Distance: 22 miles
Book: Trainline.com
Michael Portillo ’s verdict: “At the beginning of the twentieth century, Britain had 20,000 miles of railways. In South Wales, they threaded up the valleys and linked the villages. Locomotives had exceeded 100 miles per hour.”
Reedham to Lowestoft
Where: East Anglia
Distance: 11 miles
Book: Trainline.com
Michael’s verdict: “Sir Samuel Morton Peto had designs on the riches of East Anglia, which required him to conquer the tough landscape. Part of the solution was a piece of Victorian engineering genius, the swing bridge, that allowed passage for traffic on both the river and the railway.”
East Grinstead to Sheffield Park
Where: East Sussex
Distance: 11 miles
Book: Bluebell-railway.com
Michael’s verdict: “When my Bradshaw’s guidebook was published and for about 70 years in total, the Bluebell Railway line continued on to Lewes via a few small rural stations. After being closed in the 1950s, it was raised from the dead as one of Britain’s first heritage railways with the beguiling name of the Bluebell Line.
Ryde to Shanklin
Where: Isle of Wight
Distance: 8 miles
Book: Trainline.com
Michael’s verdict: “I used to take my summer holidays on the Isle of Wight every year with my family and we would travel on this rail service, which in those days was steam. But now the service is provided by trains taken from London Underground.”
Invergordon to Wick
Where: Scottish Highlands
Distance: 80 miles
Book: Trainline.com
Michael’s verdict: “From my seat on this train I have gawped in admiration at Scotland’s grandeur. The railways in the Highlands brought not industrial revolution so much as continuity to enable communities to survive and traditional skills to flourish.”
Find more exciting railway stories in Michael’s latest book, Greatest British Railway Journeys, Headline Publishing, £14.70, amazon.com
Michael Portillo Great British Railway Journeys, £14.70, amazon.co.uk
