Men of 31st Division man a Lewis gun post beside a railway line near Merris during the Battle of Hazebrouck. IWM photograph Q8689, with permission.

The control of railways in France and Flanders

All armies depend on the maintenance of supply through their Lines of Communication to be able to sustain a fighting ability. For the British Army of 1914-1918, this meant a reliance upon the railway. Virtually all goods were moved from the Channel Ports to the Railheads by standard gauge rail. The key lines that were operating in April 1916 are shown in this diagram.

Rail routes supplying the Armies on the Western Front in 1916
First Army	Boulogne, up and down trains to Arques, Berguette, then separate routes to Bethune and Hazebrouck
Second Army	Rivière Neuve, up and down trains to Hazebrouck, Bailleul, Poperinge
Third Army	From Havre and Dieppe, up line to Serqueux, Romescamps, Abbeville, Etaples and St Pol; down line from St Pol to Abbeville and Dieppe
Fourth Army	Romescamps, up and down trains to St Roch (near Amiens)

In the earliest days of the war, all rail operations were under the control of the French allies. They ran unfamiliar equipment, using different principles to those of the British. For example, in Britain an infantry battalion would be carried on two medium-sized trains at 25mph; in France they preferred one long train at 12mph. This created considerable confusion and disruption - especially as the enemy overran important rail centres including Amiens (temporarily). Soon, however, a British staff of 30 officers under an Inspector-General of Communications was installed to work in liaison with the French railway authorities, and matters for the BEF began to improve.

Authority for control of the railways was moved to the Quartermaster-General (who was already responsible for troop movements) at GHQ in November 1914, where a Director of Railways was installed. The Supply Directorate also moved to GHQ in September 1915.

The IGC was relieved of responsibility for rail traffic. Gradually British railway operating and construction strength increased, to some 76,000 men in mid 1917.

Regulating Stations

Regulating Stations were established at Abbeville (First Army) and Rivière Neuve (near Calais, Second Army). Here the train loads of commodities were unloaded and reorganised into mixed quantities for each Division, before being sent on (again by rail) to the Railhead. Experience showed that the maximum capacity of a regulating station was supplies for 20-24 Divisions, and thus the French system of one station per Army became the norm. When Third Army was formed in July 1915, it took Abbeville as its regulating station, and Boulogne was established for First Army. Romescamps was established for Fourth Army in February 1916.

Railheads

Railheads were established at various points within reasonable distance of the front-lines. Here goods were taken from the train, reorganised into lorry loads and sent by road to the Divisional Refilling Points. From this point the goods were under the control of Divisional or Brigade Supply Officers, and carried by the transport of the Divisional Supply Column. Railheads were usually 10-15 miles from the front if possible; at times of rapid advance however, the distance stretched motor transport to the limits. In September 1914 after the advance from the Marne, the lead troops were 40 miles form the railheads. In the victorious advance of 1918, the pace of railway reconstruction could not keep up and was an important factor in determining the ability of the Allies to continue the move eastwards.

Refilling points

Refilling Points were sometimes located at the same place as the Railhead, especially if the railway came up close to the front lines. At the Refilling Point, goods would be broken down into a number of 'dumps'; one for each unit to be supplied. Horse Transport wagons would be loaded up with goods destined for a Brigade, Battalion or other Divisional unit. From this point the goods were under the relevant Quartermaster, who was responsible for the supply to the front line or position. In many cases, goods were taken up to the communication trenches by light railway, mule, cart or manually; once into the trenches everything was carried up by hand. All operations up to and including the Refilling Point were carried out by units of the Army Service Corps; after that by the Transport echelons of the infantry, artillery or whichever unit was being supplied. Once into the front lines goods were carried up by the infantry, gunners etc themselves.

British Mark IV Female Tanks being loaded aboard flat-bed railway trucks at Plateau Station in preparation for transportation to the forward area prior to the opening of the Battle of Cambrai. Plateau Station, also known as the Loop Station, was on the New Maricourt military railway line. Another name for this British rail network was the Plateau Line. IWM photograph Q46930, with permission.