Scotland's Lost Branch Lines

'A very detailed analysis which highlights not only the damage caused to local communities, but also the lost potential of these branch lines that could now be an amazing resource for Scotland’s tourist industry and for local communities cut off from the network'

-- Christian Wolmar * RAIL Magazine *

'Impeccable accuracy and insight into the railways of Scotland... this is an excellent book and is highly recommended'

* Railway Magazine *

'The author forensically dissects the case presented for closing ten of the routes… expertly exposing the flawed arguments that sealed their fate'

* The Scotsman *

'David Spaven explores the reasoning and impact behind these branch line losses in this comprehensive overview'

* Scots Magazine *

'The politics revealed by David are fascinating... [he] achieves for Scotland what Charles Loft did for England in Last Trains and follows up on Richard Faulkner and Chris Austin’s Britain in Holding the Line'

* Retired Railway Officers’ Association *

'Spaven's style is accessible to all. What’s more, his conclusions about the potential reinstatement at a time of climate crisis are hugely topical'

* Scottish Field *

'Absolutely fascinating… [railways are] so integral to Scotland's economy, our people, our future, our past… This is obviously something [Spaven] is deeply passionate about'

* BBC Scotland Outdoors *

'Spaven analyses the reasons used for the Beeching closures, and the processes and their participants in great depth, making it a thoughtful and thought-provoking volume'

* Far North Express *

'This extremely well researched book examines the birth, life and death of these routes, with detailed description of the closure process'

* West Highland News Plus *

'Spaven has made a substantial contribution to the history of Scotland’s transport services. This highly detailed text is enhanced by the author's lucid writing style… this book is recommended for any railway enthusiast not satisfied with settling for a misty-eyed nostalgic view of Scotland’s branch lines'

-- Sandy Mullay * Backtra