General   (General discussion, talk about anything.)

Tommy, there are a few parallels between HS2's demise, and closure of Woodhead route.

I know you will see countless references to Woodhead line closure being due to Beeching.

Well, if you actually check it, it is not strictly true.

The Beeching Report recommended closure of the Hope Valley Line to remove duplication. Through passengers usually chose the Woodhead route, it was much quicker, and an hourly service, and popular with passengers. The Hope Valley was a slow stopping DMU service: great if you were one of the passengers using those small intermediary stations, but it was just these small passenger numbers that Beeching closures targeted.

Government(s) of the day concluded that both passenger demands/expectations, and operating practicalities would create pressures to upgrade from the 1.5 kV, and incorporate the line into the 25 kV system which was then underway.

Realising that would be costly, they closed Woodhead route instead, and got away with blaming it on Beeching.

You really cannot trust UK governments.