header-logo header-logo

Home Login E-newsletter About us
10 February 2023 / William Gibson
Issue: 8012 / Categories: Features , Public
printer mail-detail

Reflections on Beeching: beware the axeman

© Copyright LexisNexis 2026. All Rights Reserved.
110007
Did Richard Beeching deserve the public vitriol he attracted for the closure of the railways? William Gibson examines the impact of the swingeing 1960s cuts

What do the Transport Act 1962 (effective January 1963) and the Courts Act 1971 have in common? Two things: they were both intended to make improvements by cutting, and the axeman in each case was Richard Beeching.

Beeching in charge

A scientist employed by Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), he was seconded to the Civil Service for five years from June 1961 to be first chairman of the newly created British Railways Board, following abolition of the British Transport Commission (BTC). His proposed employment was disclosed to Parliament in March 1961 by the Minister of Transport, Ernest Marples. The announcement that he was to be paid a salary of £24,000 (about £470,000 today), which was more than twice as much as the outgoing chairman of the BTC, sparked an angry and extensive debate in the House. Labour opposition members en masse condemned his lack of knowledge

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Read All
Sponsored by
Charles Russell Speechlys—James Paterson

Charles Russell Speechlys—James Paterson

Charles Russell Speechlys further bolsters Private Equity expertise with the appointment of James Paterson

Ellisons—Samuel Flower

Ellisons—Samuel Flower

Ellisons strengthens Rural Affairs team with senior appointment

Sidley—Carl Hotton

Sidley—Carl Hotton

Sidley adds insurance mergers and acquisitions partner to London office

NEWS
Read All
Costs judge within limits but litigants warned
A deputy costs judge correctly exercised his discretion to allow late service rather than strike out the point of dispute, the Court of Appeal has held
Prince Harry's claim falls short
Prince Harry, Baroness Doreen Lawrence and five others have lost their case against the publisher of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline, in Various Claimants v Associated Newspapers [2026] EWHC 1637 (KB)
Making the case for open justice data
Public confidence in the justice system is being undermined by a lack of accessible, useable data, magistrates have warned
First immigration sentencing guidelines set out
The Sentencing Council has launched draft guidelines for facilitation and endangering another person during a sea crossing to the UK
Legal advice on workplace non-disclosure agreements
Government proposals to make independent written legal advice a prerequisite for workplace non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) may prove unworkable, according to a senior employment lawyer
Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
back-to-top-scroll