The British Rail Network

The railway system in Great Britain is the oldest railway system in the world, with the first locomotive-hauled public railways opening in 1825, which was followed by an era of rapid expansion. In direct contrast to this, the 1960s were a period of drastic reduction in the network where a desire for profitability led to the closure of many branch lines that were ‘uneconomic’. However, the 1970s saw a renaissance in passenger services, with the introduction of InterCity 125 trains and other high-speed additions. In this book, illustrated with over 180 images, Arthur Wilson closely examines the period of 1974–78.