National rail: museum piece or future vision?

17 September 2025  |  Michael Solomon Williams  |  Rail

The rail network is undergoing its biggest reorganisation in a generation. In spite of the many integral questions which need addressing if it is to succeed, the creation of Great British Railways (GBR) represents a significant moment in the story of national rail and, viewed optimistically, an attempt to bring greater coherence, stability and long-term vision to a system that has often struggled under the weight of fragmentation.

Reflecting on the past: the Campaign for Better Transport archive

This moment of change has made me reflect on the past. We are fortunate at Campaign for Better Transport to have our archive professionally catalogued by the fantastic team at the National Railway Museum, thanks to a grant from the Foundation for Integrated Transport. It feels poignant that our archive now sits in a museum. On one level, it is a testament to decades of impactful campaigning. But it also raises a question: are our rail system and those who campaign on its behalf destined to be experienced as museum pieces, or can rail be at the centre of a future vision for sustainable transport, with history bringing inspiration?

It is humbling to think that Campaign for Better Transport, formerly Transport 2000, has been part of this story for over half a century. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway, and we have existed for more than a quarter of that time. That longevity is reflected in the archive, which is a genuine treasure trove of reports, letters, posters, videos and meeting minutes, each one capturing the passion and persistence of campaigners determined to defend and expand public transport. Do get to York and get stuck in!

Looking back through the archive, the achievements stand out. In our 52 years, we have, among many other things, helped to put the brakes on the largest road-building programme since Roman times, halted the Serpell Report’s devastating recommendations, made the case for City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements, shaped thinking on multimodal ticketing in London, secured funding reforms for buses and supported the hugely popular £2 bus fare cap, and ultimately shifted government appreciation of the social, environmental and economic value of public transport.

Our rail network was shrinking; now it’s growing

On rail specifically, one of our proudest contributions has been helping the sector turn a corner from contraction to expansion. Public debate about rail has often been reduced to binaries in relation to the model of ownership and operation, as it is again today, yet the industry knows that the reality is more nuanced, and it is pretty important to remember that British Rail itself presided over the Beeching closures that scarred so many communities, and have exacerbated the inequality and social exclusion which now have such a damaging impact on our society. Our founding in 1973 was, in part, a reaction to that legacy.

For us, the central question has never been simply about who runs the railways. It has always been: does the network grow, and is it affordable compared to driving or flying?

What matters most is that people and communities have access. That is why much of our work has focused on saving lines from closure, making the case for reopenings, and supporting new lines and stations. We see this now bearing fruit. On the Northumberland Line, families who had never known a railway in their lifetimes are once again able to travel by train, with more than half a million journeys made since reopening last year. Before that, the Dartmoor Line reopened to instant success. And, of course, the Elizabeth Line in London has been the ultimate example of the case for network expansion.

We have written guidance on how to reopen rail lines and stations and worked with the Department for Transport and Railfuture on the case for network expansion. It is therefore quite disappointing that the Government cancelled the Restoring Your Railway fund. Instead of shelving it, ministers could have embraced, revived and expanded it, building on clear community demand and proven success stories.

Helping to save the Settle-Carlisle line

The archive brims with examples of these struggles and successes, and perhaps the most famous is the legendary campaign to save the Settle-Carlisle line. As a potted history, the line was built in the 1860s, opening for freight in 1875 and for passengers the following year. Constructed largely by hand, it took seven years and around 6,000 workers to complete. In 1981, the line was threatened with closure. By 1983, a coalition of campaigners had come together: the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line, the Railway Development Society, Transport 2000, local councils, and countless individuals. Together they formed the Joint Action Committee.

What followed has entered campaigning folklore. Alongside grassroots determination were key allies in British Rail itself, notably Ron Cotton, who helped demonstrate the line’s potential. Passenger numbers rose from 93,000 to 450,000 as new marketing, services and community engagement breathed life into the route. The line was officially saved on 11 April 1989. Today, it welcomes around 1.2 million journeys a year. Dent station, at 1,150 feet above sea level, remains England’s highest mainline station. And the route is celebrated not just as a vital transport link, but as one of the most scenic railways in the world – a living reminder that railways are about both business and pleasure.

The Settle–Carlisle story is just one of many preserved in our archive. Each campaign, whether successful or not, forms part of the collective memory of how citizens, councils, and campaigners have shaped the network we rely on today. For anyone interested in transport history, or in the lessons we can apply to today’s challenges, I heartily recommend exploring the archive in person or online, where the archive will soon also be made publicly available.

Kait Buchbaum, Archive Cataloguer at the National Railway Museum, said:

“Cataloguing the Campaign for Better Transport collection has provided a meaningful opportunity to uncover inspiring stories of how railways have evolved in the United Kingdom since the mid-20th century. The archive captures the involvement of campaigners in promoting access to railway lines and stations, from the Scottish Highlands to Gloucestershire.”

Looking to the future

The archive also demonstrates what makes Campaign for Better Transport unique. Few organisations combine public representation, rigorous research, and political influence in quite the same way. We are rooted in communities, yet able to speak credibly in Whitehall. That combination has allowed us to safeguard lines, influence funding models, and shift national policy debates for over five decades. As GBR takes shape, this blend of grassroots voice and policy expertise is more vital than ever.

The danger is that reorganisation becomes an inward-looking exercise, a debate about structures and responsibilities, while the bigger picture is forgotten. The real test of GBR will be whether it delivers a bigger, more accessible and more affordable network. That means expansion must be at the heart of its mission. Communities cut off by past closures should be reconnected. Cities and towns should see improved regional services. Ticketing must become simpler, more integrated and better value. And rail should be positioned not as a niche or luxury option, but as the backbone of a sustainable transport system.

If the archive teaches us anything, it is that progress is never automatic. Campaigners, communities and visionaries have had to fight for every mile of track saved or reopened. That is why, as rail reorganises once again, we at Campaign for Better Transport will continue to argue for expansion, accessibility and affordability. National Rail should not be seen as a museum piece. It should be the future vision of a modern, fair, and sustainable transport system – one that learns from its past but is firmly focused on the journeys yet to come.

The catalogue will be going online shortly: find it here.

This blog was first published as an article in Passenger Transport magazine.

Images:
1. A flat-lay image of materials from the Settle-Carlisle campaign – reference code CFBT/3/2/3
2. Kait Buchbaum opening the drawer that contains Campaign for Better Transport posters and placards
3. Ribblehead Viaduct, part of the Settle-Carlisle line