Harry Monk:
alamcculloch:
It was their willingness to strike back in the 50s that led to the construction of the Motorways and closure of so many branch lines. They shot themselves in the foot. More work for the lorryists though.More down to the post-WW2 economic recovery and the end of petrol rationing I think you’ll find, although the railways had been in decline since the end of WW1.
There were many factors at play. People like Marples were all for roads ,do some digging and you will see why. The railways should have been modernised as they were in France and Germany. Steam binned off. and an H.S.1 and 2 completed as a priority. The young men doing National Service carrying out pointless tasks could have been the labour force.