British Rail: Difference between revisions

== History ==

{{Main|History of rail transport in Great Britain 1948–1994}}

 

=== Nationalisation in 1948 ===

=== Advanced Passenger Train ===

{{Main|Advanced Passenger Train}}

In the 1970s, British Rail developed [[tilting train]] technology in the [[Advanced Passenger Train]]; there had been earlier experiments and prototypes in other countries, notably Italy.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/tilting/ |title = Tilting Trains |website = Railway Technology |language = en-GB |access-date = 25 April 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190425142333/https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/tilting/ |archive-date = 25 April 2019 |url-status = live}}</ref> The objective of the tilt was to minimise the discomfort to passengers caused by taking the curves of the [[West Coast Main Line]] at high speed. The APT also had [[hydrokinetic brake]]s, which enabled the train to stop from 150&nbsp;mph within existing signal spacings.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docSummary.php?docID=87 |title = Tomorrow's Train, Today |author = British Railways Board |year = 1980 |via = The Railways Archive |publisher = British Railways Board |page = 18 |access-date = 25 November 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070820044056/http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docSummary.php?docID=87 |archive-date = 20 August 2007 |url-status = live}} (Promotional leaflet)</ref>

 

In 1989, the narrow-gauge [[Vale of Rheidol Railway]] was preserved, becoming the first part of British Rail to be privatised. Between 1994 and 1997, in accordance with the [[Railways Act 1993]], the core activities of British Rail were privatised.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docSummary.php?docID=12 |title = Railways Act 1993 |author = Her Majesty's Government |year = 1903 |via = The Railways Archive |publisher = Her Majesty's Stationery Office |access-date = 26 November 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060520015332/http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docSummary.php?docID=12 |archive-date = 20 May 2006 |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher = [[House of Commons Library]] |url = http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN01157/SN01157.pdf |title = Railways: privatisation, 1987-1996 |date = 18 March 2010 |first = Louise |last = Butcher}}</ref> Ownership of the track and infrastructure passed to [[Railtrack]] on 1 April 1994. Passenger operations were later [[Franchising|franchised]] to 25 private-sector operators.<ref>{{cite journal |url = https://www.socresonline.org.uk/7/1/strangleman.html |first = Tim |last = Strangleman |date = 2002 |title = Nostalgia for Nationalisation – the Politics of Privatisation |journal = Sociological Research Online |volume = 7 |number = 1 |pages = 92–105 |doi = 10.5153/sro.701 |s2cid = 144684740 |access-date = 5 December 2022 |archive-date = 5 December 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221205024644/https://www.socresonline.org.uk/7/1/strangleman.html |url-status = live }}</ref><ref name = "trainselloff bbc2000">{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/982037.stm |title = The great train sell-off: Who dunnit? |work = BBC News |date = 20 October 2000 |access-date = 5 December 2022 |archive-date = 5 December 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221205033050/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/982037.stm |url-status = live }}</ref> Of the six freight companies, five were sold to [[Wisconsin Central Limited|Wisconsin Central]] to form [[DB Cargo UK|EWS]] while [[Freightliner Group|Freightliner]] was sold in a [[management buyout]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.ews-railway.co.uk/about/history.html |title = EWS Railway—Company History |access-date = 26 November 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060930234359/http://www.ews-railway.co.uk/about/history.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 30 September 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = Secretary of State for Transport - Written Answers |url = https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199697/cmhansrd/vo961127/text/61127w12.htm |publisher = Hansard |date = 27 November 1996}}</ref>

 

The [[Waterloo & City line]], part of Network SouthEast, was not included in the privatisation and was transferred to [[London Underground]] in April 1994.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = LUL to take over the Drain |magazine = [[Modern Railways]] |issue = 547 |date = April 1994 |page = 201 }}</ref> The remaining obligations of British Rail were transferred to [[BRB (Residuary) Limited]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title = BRB Residuary axed as Government cuts back on Quangos |magazine = [[Rail Express]] |issue = 175 |date = December 2012 |page = 10}}</ref>