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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 5, Issue 8 (February 1, 1931)

The Problem of Branch Lines

The Problem of Branch Lines.

The growth of road transport has resulted in many changes in the Home railway world. Not the least striking of these changes now proceeding, is the closing down of many branch railways for passenger operation, and their replacement by railway-operated bus services. It seems likely that eventually road buses and trucks will form the railways’ standard equipment for handling branch line business, many branch railways in sparsely populated areas being either eliminated or converted into purely freight carrying lines.

A big replacement of passenger trains by railway-operated motor buses has recently occurred in North-East England, on the York and Scarborough branch of the L. and N.E. system. On this line there were hitherto fourteen intermediate passenger stations serving small towns and villages en route, and over the branch there were operated daily a number of stopping trains in addition to a through non-stop service. All of the intermediate stations, with one exception, have now been closed, the sole remaining station retained for passenger business being an important junction point midway on the branch. The intermediate depots are now used for freight traffic only. Passengers are conveyed by railway-operated motor buses, the services of which are so arranged as to link up with the trains at the two branch line termini of York and Scarborough, and the midway depot that has been retained. The motor buses meet all public needs, and as a result of the changeover considerable economies under staff and other headings have been effected.