 The increased speed and rapid acceleration and deceleration slashed journey times around the country.BR enjoyed a boom in patronage on the routes operated by the HSTs and InterCity's profits jumped accordingly – with cross-subsidisation in turn safeguarding the future of remaining rural routes which had been under threat of closure since the Beeching Axe of the 1960s.However, by 1986/87, InterCity was losing £100m a year before interest, contributing to British Rail's £720m deficit.