50 proposals submitted to reopen railway lines closed in the Beeching Cuts

Fifty bids to build or reopen lines and stations that were closed in the Beeching cuts have been received across England and Wales, Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris has announced.

MPs and local authorities have made bids in the second round of Restoring Your Railway ‘Ideas Fund’ to develop proposals to reopen lines closed by Dr Richard Beeching from 1963.

The proposals will now be considered by an expert panel, which includes Chair of Network Rail, Sir Peter Hendy.

The proposals include reopening the line at Ferryhill, County Durham, restoring the Consett-Newcastle Connection, transforming the Newquay line, reopening Charfield station, and reinstate the Bodmin to Wadebridge railway.

Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: “Receiving so many bids once again underlines how passionate people are about reconnecting communities.”

“Local MPs, councillors and community leaders are the greatest champions of their local lines, and I look forward to working with them to ensure the projects with the greatest potential have the support they need.”

“Improving local transport links is vital as we level up access to opportunities across the country, reconnect communities and kickstart our recovery from Covid-19.”

As part of the fund, the government has also announced the third round of the New Stations Fund to invest £20m in new stations and restore closed stations to their former glory.

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