§ Mr. Gordon BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give a table showing since 1979 how many(a) railway stations have been closed, (b) miles of railway line have been taken out of use, (c) stations have ceased to be served on Sundays and (d) stations are no longer staffed at any time.
Mr. MitchellThe table lists the number of railway stations and route miles of railway line closed to passengers each year since 1979.
Station Routes miles of line closed 1979 — — 1980 — — 1981 2 0.75 1982 — 27.25 1983 14 36.75 1984 2 — 1985 8 8.75 1986 5 2.5 1987 1 33.75 This total of 32 stations closed should be seen in the context of 88 stations opened or reopened since 1980 (including 16 in Scotland) to give a net increase in stations opened of 56.
Sunday services and the destaffing of stations are management matters for British Rail.