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British Rail
 British Rail ... nationalisation of the 'Big Four' British railway companies in 1948 until the privatisation of its railway services across stages in 1997. On the advice of the Adam Smith Institute, under John Major's Conservative government's Railways Act 1993 British Rail was split up and privatised. This was a continuation of the policy of Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government's privatisation of publicly owned services. The unpopular Conservative government was facing a Labour victory at the May 1997 General Election, and so privatisation was rushed through and was finished in November 1997. Several models of privatisation were mooted, in the end the one that was chosen resembled that chosen previously for the privatisation of the electricity and gas industries. The ownership of track, trains and infrastructure was separated into different companies based upon the existing BR business structure, with government economic regulation of certain parts of the industry remaining after privatisation where sufficient competition was deemed not to exist. Passenger services in each sector were franchised out to private companies, often bus operators. The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) was created to organise ticketing and market the rail services using the National Rail brand. Freight operations were mostly bought by one company, EWS. Railtrack plc was created as a regulated monopoly controlling the infrastructure and its shares floated on the London Stock Exchange. The Shadow Strategic Rail Authority was created to oversee and advise the government. The British Railways Board remained with some residual functions.Newest Review: ... Pancreas usually). Now however I have to tell you the route then I have to send you to the Virgin ticket office to "discuss" (argue) with them to allow you to do this. This is the major disadvantage at present is the fragmentation of the rail companies and the fact we have 26 TOCs (Train Operating Companies) who seem unable to work together to support the infrastructure. However I ... more ... do beleive that if that if we had stuck with BR we would have seen no new investment into the railways and hence we would never of seen any improvement in train punctuality and reliability. I see it as a case of losing the flexibilty of travelling via an...more |
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by - written on 09/01/09
Rating:
We need them back -URGENTLY
The train companies we have are completely useless and fare prices are completely unreasonable.
I bet the French and Japanese don't pay what we do for rail travel and their train services are much better than ours. The government needs to step in and get the railways renationalised.
A London travelcard from where I live under British rail? £10 for an adult. These companies £22.00 - Its gone up by over 100%!!! Where's the justification in inflation like that? I got a single train and then drove back £55.00 for the train fare and probably around £20 in petrol by car!!!
Its time to bring back BR and get rid of these dopey money grabbing companies.
Should we give BR another chance? (328 words)
by - written on 03/05/02 (Useful, 91 readings)
Rating:
As an employee of the rail industury, one question seems to reign supreme: "Were we better off before privatisation?" My overall view is no BUT I do have major reservations about the way the system is being run. The main benefit of the old BR system is that when we had a problem on the line i.e Manchester to London I would be able to find new route and send you on it, (via sheffield to St Pancreas usually). Now however I have to tell you the route then I have to send you to the Virgin ticket office to "discuss" (argue) with them to allow you to do this. This is the major disadvantage at present is the fragmentation of the rail companies ... Read the complete review
by - written on 09/08/01
Rating:
Have you tried to book a ticket over the phone lately for your rail journeys? My advice...don't bother. Things have changed. I called the booking line today, (couldn't do it over the internet because I need to take a bike with me on two networks...)no longer do you speak to a real person, you do not even have to touch tone your requests. Latest in BR technology...voice activated. I ended up getting very angry and put the phone down after the millionth 'sorry we do not understand that request, please repeat'. Now when you phone the booking line they ask you to use the voice activated options. You then need to tell them the date, ... Read the complete review
by - written on 06/05/01
Rating:
Well, have you gathered what I think of them yet? - Advantages: It's a monopoly, so it offers a service no one else can. - Disadvantages: It's a monopoly, do they know they can get away with it., Delays. Lots of them. And then the delays use the free time created to breed more baby delays, which grow up to become BIG DELAYS., Overpriced. They use the extra cash to dream up ways of skinning you for more money.
by - written on 20/01/01
Rating:
British rail are humiliating this country. The standard of their railways and trains would not even be accepted by a tramp living on the streets. The trains are dirty, cold and not up to a satisfactory standard. You feel as if you would rather walk than pay hard earned money on a shabby train journey. Why do we pay taxes? So that our money helps the nation clean up its act. So i want to know why this is not happening on our railway lines. ... Read the complete review
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