Haven't seen this posted yet, apologies if it has :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/wk40/feature_ihislop.shtml


Rather naff title for a programme....

Quote from BBC Press Office website :-
"The notorious Beeching Report of 1963 led to the closure of many of 
Britain's railway lines and stations. In Ian Hislop Goes Off The Rails 
on BBC Four, Ian considers whether the report's author, Dr Richard 
Beeching, was a kind of Genghis Khan with a slide rule, ruthlessly axing 
swathes of the rail network in the name of progress, or simply the fall 
guy for something that had to happen?"

Richard

"Dickie mint"  wrote in message 
news:6it0n9Fdld0U1@mid.individual.net...
> Haven't seen this posted yet, apologies if it has :
>
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/wk40/feature_ihislop.shtml
>
>
> Rather naff title for a programme....
>
> Quote from BBC Press Office website :-
> "The notorious Beeching Report of 1963 led to the closure of many of 
> Britain's railway lines and stations. In Ian Hislop Goes Off The Rails on 
> BBC Four, Ian considers whether the report's author, Dr Richard Beeching, 
> was a kind of Genghis Khan with a slide rule, ruthlessly axing swathes of 
> the rail network in the name of progress, or simply the fall guy for 
> something that had to happen?"

Sounds like a fascinating programme. I hope he examines not only the 
decision to cease the service on the lines but also the decision to sell off 
the land, destroy the bridges, fill in the cuttings, thus making damn sure 
that the lines could never ever be economically re-opened in the future.