Reunifying Britain's railways: obstacles and opportunities

Abstract

During the European drive for rail liberalization in the 1990s Britain moved far beyond its continental neighbours. Amid signs of a resurgent political debate about Britain's privatized railways, the authors examine the obstacles confronting any policy-makers who may wish to re-integrate Britain's railway under public ownership. The paper considers what structural models could satisfy European rail directives, the potential for a government to reclaim rail passenger service franchises at minimal cost, and cost savings available to a de-fragmented railway without profit leakage.

Keywords:

• Cost
• franchise
• public ownership
• privatization
• rail

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ian Taylor

Ian Taylor is a director of Transport for Quality of Life and is lead author of ‘Rebuilding Rail’, a report analysing the possibilities to reintegrate the British railway system.

Lynn Sloman

Lynn Sloman is founder and director of Transport for Quality of Life and has previously served as Vice-Chair of the Commission for Integrated Transport and Adviser to the Board of Transport for London.