British Rural And Commuter Branch Lines Since 1968

This book illustrates branch lines how they were since 1968, the year of the Transport Act 1968 which aimed to halt the Beeching closures by introducing a system of financial support called Grant Aid in return for severe cuts such as removing all station staff and replacing station buildings with bus shelters, removing signalling and reducing branch lines to just a single track. The Act also established the Passenger Transport Executives for urban areas with responsibility to support and develop their local services. Despite this many branches continued to close into the 1980s.
In this book are shown branches which have closed since 1968 as well as those which have survived along with those which have reopened.
The trains pictured are mostly first generation diesel or electric multiple units with just a little steam and loco-hauled.
A final chapter shows a few nostalgic scenes from branch lines which closed before 1968

The author is Stephen Chapman, publisher and author of many Bellcode titles since 1988. Previously a journalist and photographer with Railnews from 1983 to 1996.