商品簡介
The infamous 'Beeching Axe' swept away virtually every Scottish branch-line railway in the 1960s. Conventional wisdom views these losses as regrettable - but inevitable - in an era of growing affluence and rising car ownership. Yet in his rush to improve British Railways' finances, Dr Beeching ignored the scope for sensible economies which could have allowed a significant number of axed routes to survive and prosper.
In this book, David Spaven traces the origins, development and eventual decline of the branch line in Scotland, from a business, political and social perspective - illustrating the flaws in the controversial closure process with reference to 10 branch lines: Ballachulish, Ballater, Callander, Crail, Crieff, Fraserburgh and Peterhead, Leven, Peebles and St Andrews.
The book concludes by exploring a possible renaissance of Scottish branch lines, propelled by concerns over road congestion, air pollution and the climate emergency.
