This, I know, and don't blame beeching for THAT. And I'm sure that, at the time, it all made perfect sense to shut down so many lines as recommended by his report. However, as now, there was a a wild miscalculation as to whatever the future may hold; Housing needs have run amuk since then, and the capacity of roads to cope has been, to say the least, miserable. This has FAR from diminished over the years, and a great deal of what were then not much more than hamlets have grown into thriving towns, and the ability of the remaining transport system has failed to, for lack of a better expression, keep track of events.
There was far too much haste in selling off railway land, so major obstacles were put in the way of rectifying the situation even at an early stage.
Far-sightedness has NEVER been one of our greatest attributes; and should never have reached the stage whereby the local populace has to beg in order to have ANY means of getting in and out of their community.
OK, at that time, no-one expected (for whatever reason) that any communities would expand, but given the circumstances since our admission to the European Union, surely SOMEONE in authority could have foreseen the turn of events, and suggested plans to deal with the situation?
Answer? No.

A comparative (though NOT railway related) story springs readily to mind; a pub on The Hard, in Portsmouth, a local scrumpy house of ill repute, was demolished EVERYTHING but the rear walls, when someone discovered that it was a listed building. Hackles were raised, heads nearly rolled, and the ENTIRE (large) building had to be reconstructed, even though only the rear walls were original. It's been a thriving Berni Inns place ever since.

Same with railways; no-onr thinks it through until it's too late, and/or to expensive, to rectify. :mad:

HUm yes. THe branch lines mentioned all got revived by a tourist trade, and then some commuting occurred.

Oxford to Bletchley might reopen if petrol became really pricey. However it would tend to rely on commuters, one imagines and the railway has a particular problem even more so than the bus - it usually doesn't take you anywhere near your place of work.

See the latest issue of rail magazine, carries an article on Oxford Bletchley.

Cross Country services to Leicester direct from Southampton would be great I have to go via London at the moment

Marples and Beeching must be looking down from above and thinking...no laughing at 'look of the mess we've made'...vandlisation indeed, but we go on year in year out doing nothing about RAIL Reinstatement, both Parties too 'spineless' to possibly upset the oil based(road lobby) economy...pathetic:mad:

F.A.O. Dave Rowland:
Not getting involved in the debate Dave BUT
You don't know how lucky you are to have a Bernie Inn near you.
We lost ours way back in the 80's up here in'th North and I don't know why, they were brilliant. No fuss,Prawn Cocktail, Steak or Scampie,Black Forrest Gateau,Irish Coffee and after eight mints.What more could a man ask for!!!!!!.:mad::mad:

A man could ask for one to be in Gosport, not Portsmouth! (it's a half hour bus ride and a £2.70 ferry fare to get there).I've only ever been in it once, years ago. It's painted a disgusting colour - very offputting to a delicate stomach. Bring back Wimpey Bars, that's what I say! And ordinary, old fashioned PUBS, without loudscreen TV, kids, and interminable queues just to get a pint because everyone's ordering a meal for the whole neighbourhood....
Ooooh! :)