Updating the BR Passenger Network Map
The basic premise for the layout is that the Great Central London Extension route was not dismantled after 1969. So I wanted to compare the actual and a ficticious version of the 1969 BR Passenger Network Map.
You can expand the maps.
The Actual 1969 Passenger Network Map
This is a Photoshop representation of the actual 1969 BR Passenger Network Map which I created from an original. The last remnants of the Great Central London Extension still feature from Rugby to Nottingham. These final DMU services terminated at Nottingham Arkwright Street station as Nottingham Victoria closed in 1967. Arkwright Street itself had been closed in 1963, but was reopened to replace Victoria as the final terminus.
The London Extension between Rugby and Aylesbury had by now decomissioned.
Woodhead route is still in use, this would continue until 1981. Sheffield Victoria however, lost its regular passenger services in 1971.
Something else I didn’t originally notice was the missing link from Leamington Spa to Coventry. Passenger services and all local stations were closed in 1965. Intercity services at that time were routed via Hatton and Dorridge so the link does not appear on the map. This only changed in 1977 following the opening of Birmingham International station and routing of most InterCity services via Coventry.
My ficticious 1969 Passenger Network Map
Some quite significant changes to my ficticious world in 1969.
Obviously the Great Central London Extension won out over the Midland Main Line. London Marylebone continues to offer InterCity Services to Leicester, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester (over the Woodhead Route).
The former Midland route between Hitchin and Bedford has been upgraded and now allows direct services between London Kings Cross, Leicester Central and beyond.
St Pancras lost the majority of intercity services but offers infrequent services beyond Bedford to Leicester. In later years these were branded Network Southeast where Leicester Central was the northernmost outpost.
Woodford Halse has been maintained as a significant Marshalling yard and the former Stratford upon Avon and Midland Railway route carries much iron ore, coal, and steel traffic between South Wales and the North via Broom Junction. Immingham, a former GC port, thrives.
The Wincester, Newbury to Didcot route allows interregional trains from the South Coast to head north on the former GC without reversing at Reading.
Also of note, but not affecting Leicester is the continued existance of the Somerset & Dorset. Carlisle to Edinburgh via Hawick and the Varsity Line from Oxford to Cambridge.
North of Leicester the passenger map has changed significantly. With Nottingham Midland being closed in 1968, services use Victoria station and the former Great Northern Route from Nottingham to Derby connects the two, although Friargate station was closed.
There are plenty of other secondary lines that remain and of course freight only lines are not shown on this Passenger Network Map.
