If you look at railway history - Dr Beeching savaged the railway system into a third of what it was under the direction of McMillan's tory government.
No doubt some 'pruning' was neccessary, but now the wisdom of doing it so savagely it is in doubt.
It looks like Dr Beeching was too hasty after all - Telegraph
"
Ernest Marples, Harold Macmillan’s minister of transport, a businessman with rather too many fingers in an ever-meatier road construction pie,"
..also - Beeching had financial interests in a major
road haulage company
PS just another illustration of a decision based on personal greed.