Changes

[[File:Hampton Loade station geograph-2546955-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg |thumb|300px|right| Hampton Loade in 1951, with a typical branch line service (Geograph)]]

[[File:Bridgnorth-Last-Train-1963-09-08.jpg|thumb|300px|right|GWR Panniers 9624 and 4665 prepare to depart Bridgnorth with the last BR train on 8 September 1963 ([[Sellick Collection]])]]

[[File:Closure_Notice.jpg|thumb|300px|right|BR's Public Notice of closure]]

Ownership of the Severn Valley Line passed to British Railways (BR) upon nationalisation in 1948, when it became part of the British Railways Western Region “BR(W)". The 1950s saw steam replaced on some services by [[Railcar 22 | GWR Diesel Railcars]] and BR Diesel Multiple Units ([[Class 108 DMU |DMU]]).

A continued decline in traffic numbers led to the announcement by BR(W) in June 1962 that passenger services would be completely withdrawn between Shrewsbury and Bewdley (and also reduced south of Bewdley). At that time the British Transport Commission ('BTC') report "The Reshaping of British Railways" was still in course of preparation. Statistics gathered in September 1962 by officials working on the report would undoubtedly have reinforced the argument for closure. Following consultation with Bridgnorth Council and others at a public meeting in November 1962, the Transport Users Consultative Committee ('TUCC') appealed to the BTC objecting to the closure. 'The Beeching Report' (as it came to be known) was published on 27 March 1963. The BTC saw no grounds to agree to the TUCC's appeal, and in August 1963 the closure of the line was formally announced. Thus the closure of the line was ultimately the responsibility of BR rather than a direct result of the 'Beeching Axe'.