Introduction

This 1963 report produced under Dr Richard Beeching recommended cost reduction measures which would lead to the closure of many railways and local passenger and goods stations on those lines retained. It recommended focus on long distance passenger and freight flows. In Scotland it was proposed the following long distance lines should be retained: * not all closures were proceeded with and some additional cuts were made. (Later closures also occurred.)

Retain and maintain local services

Glasgow to Edinburgh Waverley Perth to Dundee to Aberdeen Glasgow to Alloa (via Swing Bridge) to Dunfermline * Swing Bridge closed and Alloa to Dunfermline closed to passengers. Alloa closed to passengers. Edinburgh Waverley to Dunfermline to Kinross to Perth * direct route to Perth via Kinross. Edinburgh Waverley to Fife Circle Edinburgh Waverley to Burntisland to Dundee Glasgow to Greenock, Gourock and Wemyss Bay Glasgow to Kilwinning to Ardrossan and Largs Glasgow to Kilwinning to Ayr to Heads of Ayr * Ayr to Heads of Ayr closed. Lanark Branch

Retain but withdraw local services

Highland Main Line - Perth to Inverness West Highland Line - Glasgow Queen Street to Fort William to Mallaig and Crianlarich to Oban - with the local service between Craigendoran Upper and Arrochar and Tarbet withdrawn and the local service between Fort William and Mallaig withdrawn (although to remain open to limited stop trains). (Note that, along with the other Far North Lines, the Kyle of Lochalsh line was to close entirely.) * Fort William to Mallaig was not closed to local services. Aberdeen to Inverness Glasgow to Stirling (via Cumbernauld) to Perth Stirling to Alloa * closed to passengers Thornton Junction to Leven * closed to passengers Leuchars to St Andrews * closed entirely Edinburgh Waverley to North Berwick Edinburgh Waverley to Berwick-upon-Tweed Glasgow to Dalry to Kilmarnock to Dumfries to Carlisle * Dalry to Kilmarnock closed, instead Barrhead to Kilmarnock was retained. Glasgow to Carstairs to Carlisle and Edinburgh to Carstairs