THE UNDERGROUND UNDER THE GLC

For a 14 1/2-year period, starting in 1970, the London rapid transit system was subjected to overall policy and financial control by a democratically-elected local authority. This article considers whether such control, currently designated as public accountability, is desirable for operation of a large rapid transit and bus network in a major city. London Transport, a public agency since 1933, has been under varying degrees of national and local government control since that time. While a Labour government cleared the way for the Greater London Council to take direction of London Transport in 1970, it was then controlled by a succession of Conservative and Labour local administrations over the years until the national Conservative and Labour local administrations over the years until the national Conservative government set in motion the current scheme for privatizing and fragmenting control of LT operations. The succession of policies associated with successive political administrations is described, as well as changes in fares, capital investment and operations. The author doubts the viability of national government intervention in local transport and observes that while there were several changes in local political control there was continuing support of the importance of London Transport with differences mainly in matters of emphasis. The GLC era is called one of steady progress in renewal and extension, marked also by establishment of a more appropriate fare structure.

Media Info

  • Features: Photos;
  • Pagination: p. 86-89
  • Serial:
    • MODERN RAILWAYS
    • Volume: 43
    • Issue Number: 449
    • Publisher: Ian Allan Publishing, Limited
    • ISSN: 0026-8356

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00454904
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: May 31 1986 12:00AM