Beeching made his recommendations in the mid 1960s, when car ownership was increasing rapidly , main motorways being completed, freight increasingly being moved to the rapidly improving road network.
The rail network had evolved to replace the canals in the days of horse and cart. No wonder he produced the report he did.
With hindsight I believe he got it absolutely right - up to a point. Had he a crystal ball he may have ripped up the lines, created tarmac roadways, to be used exclusively for freight and bus/coach traffic.
No need for goods yards at stations etc. Would have (a) provided efficient flexible uninterrupted freight and public transport, and (b)) removed load from existing road networks reducing congestion.
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