A plan to revive Britain’s rural railways gathers steam
The poetry makes more sense than the economics
IN THE SILENT ticket office, beneath the half-moon windows of the booths, a large green sign announces “OKEHAMPTON” to an empty room. On the platform, a faded poster reads “DEVON—Travel by rail”. Those reading it have had little chance to do so. The last passenger train left Okehampton on June 3rd 1972. The town turned out to mourn: the mayor stood by, holding a wreath. On the line, between the sleepers, the grass started to grow.
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Railing against modernity”
Britain October 23rd 2021
- Why the Bank of England is looking unusually hawkish
- The British government belatedly tries to prevent a porcine tragedy
- Britain has ambitious climate-change plans—and two problems
- The government wants pension funds to help with levelling up
- A plan to revive Britain’s rural railways gathers steam
- The British state is becoming worryingly reliant on its armed forces
- The death of Sir David Amess holds lessons for British politics
From the October 23rd 2021 edition
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