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L<\/span>ondon (Sky News) –<\/strong> Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said he wanted to open up routes which would encourage housebuilding, ease overcrowding and boost the economy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The proposals also include splitting up the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise serving London and parts of the <\/span>south east in 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n Great Western – serving the South West and South Wales and currently run by First Group – could also be broken up under the plans.<\/span><\/p>\n But Labour has dismissed the plans as “unambitious” – with transport campaigners warning it is “desperately difficult to reopen a rail line”.<\/span><\/p>\n Thousands of stations and hundreds of local rail lines were closed down between 1964 and 1970 on the recommendation of the then British Railways chairman Dr Richard Beeching.<\/span><\/p>\n The Government’s rail strategy, which includes restoring lost capacity, is being published on Wednesday.<\/span><\/p>\n