British Railways 1948-73: A Business History

Front Cover
Cambridge University Press, 1986 - Business & Economics - 781 pages
Originally published in 1986, this is a business history of the first twenty-five years of nationalised railways in Britain. Commissioned by the British Railways Board and based on the Board's extensive archives, it fully analyses the dynamics of nationalised industry management and the complexities of the vital relationship with government. After exploring the origins of nationalisation, the book deals with the organisation, financial performance, investment and commercial policies of the British Transport Commission (1948-2), Railway Executive (1948-53) and British Railways Board (1963-73). Calculations of profit and loss, investment, and productivity are provided on a consistent basis for 1948-73. This business history thus represents a major contribution not only to the debate about the role of the railways in a modern economy but also to that concerning the nationalised industries, which have proved to be one of the most enduring problems of the British economy since the war.
 

Contents

nationalisation
1
The British Transport Commission and the Railway
29
Executive 194853 29
53
Investment labour relations and productivity
507
Conclusion
566
A The true financial results of British Railways 194873
585
Estimates of productivity 194873
612
G The Euston mainline electrification scheme
625
Deficits markets and closures 173
173
Wages unions and productivity 214
214
The Modernisation Plan and investment 256
256
organisation and reorganisation 307
307
Financial performance and rationalisation 389
389
Markets pricing and commercial strategy 469
469
J Passenger service rationalisation 196173 639
639
Select bibliography 756
756

The new railway organisation 137
137

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