Wikipedia’s article (at the time of writing) is pretty fair, hey, it even name checks my pamphlet for the LA so I can’t be too critical. Where I would depart from it is in its downplaying of the effects of regulation.

For example:

• Railtrack could not charge what it liked. For the most part this was set by the Regulator. It couldn’t decide who it sold its services to. This was determined by the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising and later the Strategic Rail Authority.
• TOCs could not charge what they liked. Price control (of some fares) especially commuter fares was a contractual obligation.
• There seems to have been a massive expansion in the role of the Health and Safety Executive.

We also shouldn’t forget that the nature of the privatised industry changed over time. After the election of the Labour government in 1997 they set up the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) to replace the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising and to finance large projects.

Then in 2001 Railtrack was put into administration to be replaced by the not for profit Network Rail whose status - whether state or private - is still unclear.

Then in 2004 (I think) the SRA was itself abolished and its functions taken over by the Department of Transport.

Just so that no one should be in no doubt: I think British Rail privatisation was a failure.

Permalink • Rail • Last Updated: 21 September 2006

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