British Rail: A History

British Rail had a relatively short life, coming into being on New Years Day 1948, as the trade name of the Railway Executive of the British Transportation Commission, and effectively expiring as a government-owned function in 1997, when outright sales and private operating franchises returned passenger and freight service to the marketplace. The name "British Rail" still exists as a trade name.Early Railroading in Britain

Rail transportation in Britain began with the construction of the 25-mile Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1821. In 1923, the railway systems were consolidated under four large operating companies: the Great Western Railway, the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, the London and North Eastern Railway and the Southern Railway. Various infrastructure improvements were made until 1955, when an $18,000,000,000 improvement program brought about changes such as the replacement of steam locomotives with diesel power.Transitional Years

Between 1963 and 1970, major administrative changes, system downsizing and the consolidation of ineffective freight systems were undertaken in an attempt to improve the financial affairs of British Rail. There are still questions as to the efficacy of those undertakings, although passenger rail service enjoyed a resurgence in the late 1970s and early 1980s with the introduction of high-speed passenger serviceHeydey and Controversey

In the 1980s, fare increases exceeded the rate of inflation and government funding was reduced, sparking a round of accusations that the government was bent eliminating rail service. Various reports were prepared, most notably the Serpell Report, but no clear conclusions were drawn at the time and the value of the Report has been in question since its submission.Enterinig the 21st Century

Between 1994 and 1997, the physical assets of British Rail were transferred to a new government entity, Railtrack. Railroad freight service was sold off to private operators and passenger rail service, rather than being sold off, was franchised to private operators. Government claims of improvements in passenger rail service are still sometimes disputed--much as they have been since British Rail's inception--by those saying that, rather than growing a new customer base, the government has reduced the size of the rail system by half.

Sources: British Rail, 1974-1997: From Integration To Privatisation, Terry Gourvish, Oxford University Press, 2004.

British Rail, 1974-1997: From Integration To Privatisation