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Synopsis
In the aftermath of the Hatfield rail crash of October 2000 the railway system was reduced to a state of chaos from which it has still not fully recovered. And it was not just the passengers who suffered; Railtrack, the company that actually owns and manages the tracks, was transformed from a stock market star into a financial basket case; most important of all, as this book makes clear, the folly of splitting the national railway system up into a labyrinth of privatised companies all seeking to profit at the expense of the others, was exposed. Setting his analysis within the broader historical context of Britain's railway industry, Christian Wolmar shows that Hatfield, and the earlier accidents at Southall and Ladbroke Grove, were merely the symptoms of the dysfunctional structure that had been created by privatisation. John Major and his colleagues had destroyed British Rail which, the book argues, was in fact well on the way to creating the most efficent railway system Britain had ever known, and replaced it with a Byzantine system in which hundreds of staff are employed simply to argue with each other about the responsibility for every delay, where knowledge which might improve the efficiency and safety of the network is not shared but jealously guarded, and which requires more public subsidy than the 'inefficient' nationalised system it replaced. The result is the present situation in which the train operators have lost a large slice of their market; the maintenance of the track is in the hands of contractors who grow rich while employing staff who are often inadequately trained and qualified; and, because Railtrack - the one company that is indespensible to the entire system - is entirely reliant upon further injections of public funds, the government now finds itself with all the financial responsibilities it had under the nationalised system while lacking most of the power.
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About the Author
Christian Wolmar is a freelance journalist specialising in transport who writes regularly for the Independent, The Gaurdian and the Evening Standard and has a regular column in Rail magazine.
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- PublisherAurum Press Ltd
- Publication date2001
- ISBN 10 1854108573
- ISBN 13 9781854108579
- BindingPaperback
- Edition number2
- Number of pages224
- Rating
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Broken Rails: How Privatisation Wrecked Britain's Railways
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Broken Rails: How Privatisation Wrecked Britain's Railways
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paperback. Condition: Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used textbooks may not include companion materials such as access codes, etc. May have some wear or writing/highlighting. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!. Seller Inventory # S_404517030
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Broken Rails : How Privatisation Wrecked Britain's Railways
Published by
Quarto Publishing Group UK, 2001
ISBN 10: 1854108573
ISBN 13: 9781854108579
Used
Softcover
Seller: Better World Books Ltd, Dunfermline, United Kingdom
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Condition: Good. Ships from the UK. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # GRP12664609
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Broken Rails: How Privatisation Wrecked Britain's Railways
Published by
Quarto Publishing PLC, United Kingdom, 2001
ISBN 10: 1854108573
ISBN 13: 9781854108579
Used
Paperback
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Good. In the aftermath of the Hatfield rail crash of October 2000 the railway system was reduced to a state of chaos from which it has still not fully recovered. And it was not just the passengers who suffered; Railtrack, the company that actually owns and manages the tracks, was transformed from a stock market star into a financial basket case; most important of all, as this book makes clear, the folly of splitting the national railway system up into a labyrinth of privatised companies all seeking to profit at the expense of the others, was exposed. Setting his analysis within the broader historical context of Britain's railway industry, Christian Wolmar shows that Hatfield, and the earlier accidents at Southall and Ladbroke Grove, were merely the symptoms of the dysfunctional structure that had been created by privatisation. John Major and his colleagues had destroyed British Rail which, the book argues, was in fact well on the way to creating the most efficent railway system Britain had ever known, and replaced it with a Byzantine system in which hundreds of staff are employed simply to argue with each other about the responsibility for every delay, where knowledge which might improve the efficiency and safety of the network is not shared but jealously guarded, and which requires more public subsidy than the 'inefficient' nationalised system it replaced. The result is the present situation in which the train operators have lost a large slice of their market; the maintenance of the track is in the hands of contractors who grow rich while employing staff who are often inadequately trained and qualified; and, because Railtrack - the one company that is indespensible to the entire system - is entirely reliant upon further injections of public funds, the government now finds itself with all the financial responsibilities it had under the nationalised system while lacking most of the power. The book has been read but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact and the cover is intact. Some minor wear to the spine. Seller Inventory # GOR001771759
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Broken Rails
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Paperback. Condition: Used; Very Good. ***Simply Brit*** Welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there is something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality. Seller Inventory # 4052761
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Broken Rails: How Privatisation Wrecked Britain's Railways
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Condition: Good. This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside.This book has soft covers. In good all round condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item,450grams, ISBN:9781854108579. Seller Inventory # 9634779
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