TRANSPORT - ACCOUNTABILITY AND CONSUMER CHOICE

To a large extent transport in the United Kingdom, especially transport of passengers, is seen as a public service. Market forces are not allowed to have much sway; and the result is that in many cases the benefits received by society do not match the costs. The fact that British rail is running at a vast loss is obviously important, but much more important is the fact that British rail is using society's resources in ways which are extravagant and wasteful. The contention of this article is that such waste will persist unless operations are made subject to market forces, and that these forces can best be brought to bear by competition. It does not necessarily follow that all sections of the industry should return to private enterprise, although such an idea has much to support it. It does mean, however, that many of the units should be smaller than they are at present.(a)

• Corporate Authors:

  National Westminster Bank Limited

  41 Lothbury
  London,   England 
• Authors:
  • HIBBS, J
• Publication Date: 1976-2

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 58-68
• Serial:
  • National Westminster Bank Quarterly Review
  • Publisher: National Westminster Bank Limited

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Competition; Demand; Economic factors; Economics; Loss and damage; Passenger transportation; Profits; Public transit; Railroad transportation; Railroads; Transportation; Transportation modes; Transportation policy
• Identifier Terms: British Rail
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom; United States
• Old TRIS Terms: National transportation policies; Railway
• ITRD Terms: 235: Competition; 226: Cost benefit analysis; 285: Demand (econ); 263: Economics of transport; 9040: Loss; 217: Profit; 744: Public transport; 1173: Rail bound transport; 8119: United kingdom
• Subject Areas: Economics; Planning and Forecasting; Society; Transportation (General); I10: Economics and Administration; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00144104
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 16 1981 12:00AM