| dc.description.abstract | This thesis places the work of Dr Richard Beeching as Chairman of the British Railways
Board in the context of Government policy towards the nationalised railways 1951-64, and
examines the popular myth that Beeching and the Minister who appointed him, Ernest
Marples, initiated a policy of railway closures and contraction. The thesis argues that
Beeching's appointment and policies need to be seen in the context of the failure of
Government policy towards the railways during the 1950s.
The background to the Transport Act, 1953 is analysed. It is argued that, through this
Act, the Government increased competition in the transport field, but was unwilling to
accept, and unprepared for, the logical consequences of this change. The discussion of
the Government's subsequent policy towards the railways during the 1950s argues that by
intervening in industrial relations and price-setting, Ministers not only forced the railways
into the red, but hampered their own efforts to encourage the industry to increase its
efficiency. Government involvement in industrial relations, price-setting, investment and
the withdrawal of unremunerative services is discussed.
The Government's tougher approach to railway finances after 1959 (apparent in the 1962
Transport Act, tighter supervision of investment and the closure programme under
Beeching) is placed in two contexts. Firstly, the growing recognition within Whitehall
that the rise of road transport would limit the railways' future role. Secondly, the reform
of the relationship between government and the nationalised industries in general. This
discussion leads to a re-evaluation of Marples' significance, and a rejection of the view
that Beeching's closure programme arose from a study of the railways in isolation from
transport as a whole.
Finally, the presentation and implementation of Beeching's closure programme until the
1964 General Election is discussed. The thesis argues that the social and economic
consequences of closures were not ignored. | en_US |
