Without the Beeching report there might not have been Brexit

The reshaping of the railways left deep scars, with towns and villages isolated, and London all-important

There are expert government reports that quickly gather dust. There are reports that seem as if they will make a difference but are quietly forgotten about. There are reports that actually matter. And then there's Beeching.

Even now, 56 years after its release, you don't need to be a transport buff to know about the Beeching report. Following its publication in March 1963, hundreds of stations and thousands of miles of track were axed. The rail network was slimmed down on the grounds that many lines were underused and uneconomic.

Related: Rail services lost under 1960s Beeching cuts may reopen

Related: Left in a siding: the rail link that could make Heathrow greener

Related: Brewing in the Borders: businesses thriving on Scotland's new railway line