Oh, Doctor Beeching... if you could see us now

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Longer BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) article under the title Oh, Doctor Beeching... if you could see us now

From within that article, a proponency of community involvement and an appreciation of the Tarka^▸ (Branch line from Barnstaple to Exeter) team.

Branch lines, too, have enjoyed a revival. The Barnstaple-Exeter route is now known as the Tarka Line, a branding exercise aimed at tourists, the lifeblood of the region. Many stations, long since unmanned, now have volunteers to sweep the platforms, fill the flower baskets and shine up the heritage plaques.

The rolling stock is not quite so appealing - two or three old carriages that look like buses on the inside in the winter,  supplemented during the summer with extra carriages and lots of room for tourist bikes and suitcases.

But looking out at the view the other day, it occurred to me how branch lines are one of the factors that can catalyse new development.

As broadband spreads, places close to a rail link become increasingly attractive areas in which to live.

I do wonder about "extra carriages and lots of room for tourist bikes and suitcases." ... which I felt was a hark back to the 1960s and prior ...

[RichardB]

Thanks for the link, Graham.  That's a nice piece.  I think the "lots of room" comment is a little bit of wishful thinking but does reflect GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s strengthening of the service at busy times, as best they can, and simply the difference between travelling on a Pacer and even a Cl 150/2.

[Chris from Nailsea]

... simply the difference between travelling on a Pacer and even a Cl 150/2.

... like the difference between travelling on a bus or a train.



Sorry, Richard: did I say that out loud?