Leighton–Linslade Government Act 1972 the district was merged into South Bedfordshire in 1974, and was downgraded to a parish. Leighton–Linslade is recognised as a Cycling town by Cycling England, from whom it receives funding to promote cycle use. The parish participates in international town twinning: Leighton–Linslade Leighton–Linslade is a civil parish in the district of Central Bedfordshire in Bedfordshire, England, with a population of 37,469 at the 2011 Census. It consists of the settlements of Leighton Buzzard and Linslade, which have a single town council. The River Ouzel provides the border between the parts, with Leighton to the east and Linslade
Leighton Buzzard Light Railway until 1969. In 1968 the line was more lightly used and volunteers under the name of "The Iron Horse Railway Preservation Society" took over the line on weekends to run the first formal passenger services on the line. Part of the agreement between the railway and the volunteers was that volunteers would repair the permanent way. This was undertaken, the group having purchased secondhand rolling stock and four Simplex diesels from the St Albans Sand and Gravel company, which were dismantled and formed into one machine. The last sand train ran on the main line in 1969, although several quarries