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 OK. Here is my precis - tho other posters will of course have their own interpretation which is equally valid. The Modernization Plan - this in essence extends back to the grouping of 1923 into the Big Four; the Government then basically capped the rates which the railways could charge. After the war and nationalisation the system was basically run on string so the govt of the time reorganised the transport system (again). One spin off was the British Railways Board and lo - they were charged with producing an investment plan which would modernise the railways and create a vibrant public service. Which the treasury would pay for. SO, this plan appeared. And to say the least it was entertaining in that "blue sky" thinking was prevalent and not a lot else. Basically the railways asked for a lot of locomotives, new track, lots of electrification and all sorts of other gubbins and in return the railways faithfully promised that there would no more deficits. This of course proved to be slightly erroneous. Anyway, a few years later and tired of the groaning deficits which the railways were clocking up the Govt brought in Dr Richard Beeching from ICI on a whopping salary who produced "The Re-shaping of British Railways". This was a report which called for inter alia, a lot of cuts and closures. SO therefore known as the Beeching Axe; Beeching Cuts. A Lot of the railway was cut. And some of it is now being put back at great expense.Hehehehehe. A sprinter is basically a light weight DMU train of two(or three carriages) which can be coupled to others. They were bought in to reduce operating costs on the provincial services by replacing the locomotive/ carriage fleet. The are relatively easy to maintain; easier to move when failed; produce less track wear and are more flexible. Think of a bus on wheels. And actually; they are pretty hardy. As for frieght flows. Ah. You can run flows economically for 10 miles if you are hauling heavy tonnages and dont forget that in the tight and crowded island which we reside land is at a premium so the road netweork cannot grow exponentially to remove bottlenecks. Therefore congestion is one of rails great friends. The haul which some refer to is 6S55 the Burngullow to Irvine Slurry Tank Train. Taking china clay up to Scotland for processing into various bits and pieces.
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