THE POLICY DEBATE IN GREAT BRITAIN. IN: RAILWAYS

This paper considers the arguments for and against alternative methods of rail privatization in Great Britain. Economic characteristics of the railway industry are discussed and the reasons why governments intervene in the rail sector are examined. Empirical evidence on economies of scale and the impacts of the methods of organization on the efficiency of the rail industry are examined. The current proposals for organizational and regulatory reform for British Rail are examined in the light of this evidence. The authors conclude that problems identified with all the possible methods of privatization suggest that the government should proceed cautiously on privatization. Access to infrastructure for private operators and franchising of services should be key elements in privatization policy.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/1840645539
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was originally published in Report of the Ninetieth Round Table on Transport Economics, Held in Paris on 4th-5th February 1993 on the Following Topic: Privatisation of Railways, European Conference of Ministers of Transport, pp 85-107, 110-119.
• Corporate Authors:

  Edward Elgar Publishers

  William Pratt House, 9 Dewey Court
  Northampton, MA  United States  01060-3815
• Authors:
  • NASH, C A
  • PRESTON, J
• Publication Date: 2002

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 226-258
• Serial:
  • Classics in Transport Analysis
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Case studies; Economic analysis; Economies of scale; Federal government; Franchises; Infrastructure; Organization; Policy analysis; Private enterprise; Privatization; Railroads; Regulatory reform
• Identifier Terms: British Rail
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Economics; Policy; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00964766
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 1840645539
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 2 2003 12:00AM