 These lines were former GWR and GCR intercity lines to Wolverhampton and Nottingham respectively.After the Beeching Axe in the 1960s, these lines became seriously run down with a lack of investment and a reduction of services.By the late 1980s, the 25-year-old Class 115s needed replacement; the lines had low speed limits and were still controlled by semaphore signalling from the early 1900s; and Marylebone was served only by infrequent local trains to and from High Wycombe and Aylesbury.