However the DCL itself was not seriously affected by the closures, until it began to lose stations from 1960 onwards. Even the Beeching Report only recommended the closure of the remaining three intermediate stations between West Hartlepool and Seaham. This occurred on 4 May 1964, when stopping passenger services along this section of the line were withdrawn. Elsewhere, the Newcastle—Pelaw—South Shields route was de-electrified in January 1963 and, later, stopping passenger services on this route, and the wider DCL north of Sunderland, were downgraded to "Paytrain" services, resulting in most intermediate stations becoming unmanned from 5 October 1969.