Who got rid of the branch lines?
Who got rid of the branch lines? Beeching's plan was wide-ranging and ambitious, taking in the British transport system as a whole. It was so much more than simply closing branch lines and stations, for which he became so notorious.
What was the worst ever British rail disaster?
Worst accidents The worst accident was the Quintinshill rail disaster in Scotland in 1915 with 226 dead and 246 injured. Second worst, and the worst in England, was the 1952 Harrow and Wealdstone rail crash, which killed 112 people and injured 340.
Why did British Rail fail?
At the point of privatisation there was not enough revenue in the rail system to meet operating costs, capital investment and the claims of shareholders. Like most countries, Britain's rail system was and still is loss-making. To make up the revenue shortfall, the government introduced a system of public subsidies.