Peter Hitchens urges revival of closed rail links
Peter Hitchens argues that Britain’s dependence on private cars has become harmful and unsustainable, and calls for a major revival of the railways that were closed in previous decades. The article presents this as a challenge to transport policy, contending that rebuilding rail connections could reduce reliance on driving and improve national mobility.
The piece is an opinion column rather than a reported news account, and its central claim is that past railway closures have left communities more dependent on cars. It characterises the country’s driving culture as dangerous and urges investment in restoring lost rail infrastructure, though the supplied text does not include specific routes, costs or policy proposals.
- Hitchens calls for Britain to rebuild closed railways.
- He argues excessive car dependence is harmful.
- The article is an opinion column.
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Britain’s rail network was much larger before the 1960s, when many lines and stations were closed after a government-backed review led by Dr Richard Beeching. The closures were intended to cut losses and concentrate services on busier routes, but they also removed direct rail access from many towns and rural areas.
Since then, private cars have become the main way many people travel, particularly where public transport is limited. Reopening former rail routes is sometimes proposed as a way to improve access to jobs, education and services, while reducing pressure on roads.
Peter Hitchens is a British journalist and commentator who often writes opinion pieces on politics and social change. Debates over rail restoration involve practical questions including the cost of rebuilding tracks, the likely number of passengers and whether other forms of transport could meet local needs.
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The case for
Supporters argue that restoring selected closed rail links could give communities practical alternatives to driving, especially where bus services are limited and congestion, emissions and road danger impose wider social costs. They contend that long-term public investment in connected rail networks can improve access to work, education and services, strengthen regional economies, and make mobility less dependent on owning a car.
The case against
Critics argue that reopening railways is expensive, slow and not automatically the most effective way to improve transport, particularly where former routes have been built over or demand would be modest. They contend that scarce funds may deliver greater benefits through more frequent buses, safer walking and cycling routes, road maintenance, or targeted upgrades to existing rail services, while recognising that many people will continue to need cars.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “PETER HITCHENS: Our obsession with cars is a dangerous madness. It’s time to rebuild the railways we threw away”.