The Strategic Rail Authority is being urged to reverse the Beeching era by
restoring key links and returning major towns to the rail network.

A new study sponsored by railfuture and five other bodies finds that putting the tracks back boosts regeneration and helps to boost the rail network generally.

The report 'Beeching in Reverse - the case for a programme of line and station
reopenings' identifies a number of schemes in the South East as leading
contenders for reopening. They are:

* Bedford to Sandy
* Bicester to Bletchley
* Bletchley to Aylesbury
* Hythe to Southampton
* Lewes to Uckfield
* Princes Risborough to Aston Rowant
* Romsey to Eastleigh
* Shanklin to Ventnor
* Tunbridge Wells to Eridge
* Leighton Buzzard to Dunstable

However, the report stresses that this is not an exclusive list. There are many other contenders.

The report highlights the success in the 1980s of a programme of rail reopenings carried out by British Rail and local authorities.

It goes on to show that since privatisation the cost of such schemes has rocketed and the rate at which lines and stations have reopened has slumped. Although, with the creation of the Strategic Rail Authority, the pace has picked up again,
there is still no national policy or programme for reopenings - and many
viable schemes are stuck at the planning stage.

The report recommends that regional audits should be carried out to identify
all towns of 20,000 or more without a direct rail service as a precursor to
providing dedicated rail-link buses, or direct rail services.

The report also shows that the cost of bringing back the tracks is, in most
cases, cheaper (mile for mile) than building major new roads.

'This report shows the extraordinary success of most of the lines and
stations reopened during the eighties and nineties,' said the report's author, Paul Salveson, director of the Transport, Research and Information Network.

'From Mansfield to Maesteg and from Bathgate to Clitheroe passenger growth consistently exceeds expectations and the railway has not only taken traffic off the roads but also provided a valuable boost to local development.

'What's more the cost of these schemes comes in far cheaper than building new roads. What we need now is for the Government's Strategic Rail Authority to actively promote line and station openings as part of a programme to restore missing links and put back on the map the major towns that Dr Beeching left stranded.'

Stewart Francis, Chairman of the Rail Passengers Council, said: 'Whilst no one is suggesting that all the lines and stations closed by Dr Beeching should be restored there is a strong case for accelerating a targeted programme of selected schemes.

'At a time when the public is deeply sceptical about the future of the railways there can be no greater symbol for a wider rail revival than putting back the tracks to those towns for which there are viable and cost effective proposals.'

Jonathan Bray, adviser to Transport 2000's Platform network and coordinator for the Beeching in Reverse report, said: 'There are many parts of the country where the wounds inflicted by Dr Beeching's axe still haven't healed.

'From the Scottish Borders to Caernarfon, and from Ebbw Vale to Swanage there are viable schemes, strongly supported by the local community, to restore their connection to the rail network.

'If the Strategic Rail Authority and the Government want to demonstrate that they are serious about turning the railways around then a commitment to a staged programme of restoring key rail links will do wonders for their reputation.'

Peter Lawrence, chairman of Railfuture, said: 'At a time of concerns on global warming, the requirement to reduce the use of fossil fuels and ever increasing road congestion, modal shift is becoming increasingly essential.

'In the view of Railfuture the reopening projects outlined in this publication are priority schemes to give greater access to rail and are a first step on expanding the UK national rail system.

'It is clear there is a demand for more rail travel and the proposed schemes will
increase journey opportunities for those wishing to use environmentally friendly public transport."

The report will be followed up by a conference in Nottingham on Thursday next week (September 27) with a 'trial of Dr Beeching' to be held the night before on the
evening of September 26th.

For more information contact TR&INs on 01484 549737


For more information (and contacts for local reopening campaigns) contact:
Paul Salveson (report author): 01484 549 737 M: 07971 881 241
Peter Lawrence (Railfuture): 01603 743 446. M: 0788 419 4510
Jonathan Bray (Platform): 020 7613 0743 X115 H: 020 7274 6270 M: 07960
117 435
Steve Hounsham (Transport 2000 press officer) 020 7613 0743 X106
Phil Wilks (RPC): 020 7880 6129


The report is supported by Railfuture, the Rail Passengers Council, Platform
(Transport 2000's rail campaign and information network), The Railway Forum, Plymouth City Council and the Association of Community Rail Partnerships. Funding has largely been provided by the RPC and the project was coordinated by Platform.

Copies of 'Beeching in Reverse' will be widely circulated to the rail
industry, politicians and the media. Additional copies can be obtained from
TR&IN, Brian Jackson Centre, New North Parade, Huddersfield HD1 5JP for