England'shighestmain-linerailwaystationhangsontolifebyathread:desertedandunmanned(无人的)sinceitwasofficiallyclosedin1970.Dent,36highinthehillsofYorkshire,wakesupOnsixsummerweekendseachyear,whenaspecialchartertrainunloadswalkers,sightseersandpeoplewho37wanttocatchatrainfromthehigheststation,ontoitsplatform.Buteventhislimitedexistencemaysoonbebroughttoanend.
DentstationissituatedontheSettletoCarlislerailwayline,saidtobethemost38inthecountry.ButnoamountofscenicbeautycansavethelinefromBritishRail'scashproblems.Thisyear,forthe39ofeconomy,theexpresstrainswhichusedtopassthroughDentstationhavebeenputontoanotherroute.
ItisnowanopensecretthatBritishRailseesnofutureforthisrailwayline.Mostofitstrainsdisappearedsometimeago.Itsbridge,builtonagrand40acenturyago,isfallingdown.Itisnotalone.Half-a-dozenrailwayroutesinthenorthofEnglandarefacingasimilarthreat.Theproblemisaworn-outsystemandanalmost41lackofcashtorepairit.Bridgesandtunnelsareshowingtheirage,thewoodensupportsforthetracksarerottingandenginesandcoachesaregettingold.On42linesbetweenlargecities,theproblemisnottoobad.Theselinesstillmakeaprofitandcashcanbefoundto43them.Butonthecountrybranchline,thestoryisdifferent.Astrackwearsout,itisnotreplaced.Insteadspeedlimitsareintroduced,makingjourneyslongerthannecessaryanddiscouragingcustomers.
Ifabridgeisdangerous,thereisoftenonlyonethingforBritishRailtodo:gooutandfindmoneyfromanother44.ThisisexactlywhatitdidafewmonthsagowhenabridgeatBridlingtonstationwasthreateningtofaildown.Repairswere45at200,000--justforonebridge--andBritishRailwasdelighted,andrathersurprised,whentwolocalcouncilsofferedhalfthatamountbetweenthem.