Shock Plan For British Railways

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30093, 29 March 1963, Page 11

Shock Plan For British Railways

(N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, March 28. Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, in Wales, is one of 2363 railway stations in Britain which are to be closed under Dr. Richard Beeching’s plan for British Railways.

Dr. Beeching announced the plan at a news conference yesterday. Both London evening newspapers predicted trouble ahead for the Government over the plan. In the House of Commons, the Transport Minister (Mr Marples) said It was essential to reshape the railway systems on the lines Dr. Beeching proposed. He described the plan as "a major contribution to the Government’s policy of providing an efficient, economic and well-balanced transport system. Di Beeching, a 48-year-old former physicist, was made chairman of the British Transport Commission two years ago, at £24,000 a year, to “attack" the railways £l5O million annual loss. Dr. Beeching formerly held a high executive position with Imperial Chemical Industries. His report recommends:— Closure of 2363 unprofitable stations. Scrapping of 320 services covering 5000 miles. Disposal of a third of the railways system’s 850,000 freight wagons, and Slashing of British Railways’ manpower by 150,000 by 1970. More than half the manpower redundancies would fall within the next two or three yean, All but 100 of the system’s 9000 freight depots would be closed. Higher fares would be introduced on many of the passenger lines left running. On the brighter side, luxury express services would be introduced between cities. Fast goods trains would ply

between big, modernised goods depots serving wide areas. Mir Marples said it was necessary to withdraw many passenger services if better railway services were to be provided to meet “the real needs of the nation.” He promised he would make sure adequate alternative means of transport were available before a line or a station was closed. A shocked Labour Party spokesman said the cuts confirmed “our very worst fears.” The Railway Shopmen's Joint National Council, representing 20 other unions with 110.000 men said the plan seemed to indicate “a complete and callous disregard for the social need* of the nation.” Some newspaper reports said protests began pouring into their offices within minutes of the plan being announced. Welsh and Scottish toarist and development organisations were quickly into the fray. The Scottish Tourist Board labelled the plan "disastrous’" for the tourist industry and the Scottish economy. The Development Corporation for Wales said the consequences would be "truly shattering." The 58-letter, Welsh tongue-twister is the longest name in British Railways’ timetables. It is usually shortened to LUnfadr P.G. on tickets and timetables. But outsize tickets, with the full name, are issued at a special price as souvenirs. Llanfair P.G. is 250 miles from London.