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==Post privatisation==
==Post privatisation==
Subsequent to privatisation, Britain's network of tracks and stations has been owned and maintained by Railtrack, and subsequently Network Rail, while train services have been managed by numerous regional Train Operating Companies (TOCs), who lease rolling stock from a number of leasing companies such as HSBC Rail.
Subsequent to privatisation, Britain's network of tracks and stations has been owned and maintained by Railtrack, and subsequently Network Rail, while train services have been managed by numerous regional [[Train Operating Companies]] (TOCs), who lease rolling stock from a number of leasing companies such as HSBC Rail.
Although privatisation has brought a huge amount of investment, large efficiency savings and improved infrastructure and services, the government has continued to strangle innovation by heavily regulating companies behaviour, dictating timetables and service patterns as well as fares, though despite this, since privatisation passenger usage and quality of service has soared well above socialised rail systems such as those in France, Spain and the Netherlands.
Although privatisation has brought a huge amount of investment, large efficiency savings and improved infrastructure and services, the government has continued to strangle innovation by heavily regulating companies behaviour, dictating timetables and service patterns as well as fares, though despite this, since privatisation passenger usage and quality of service has soared well above socialised rail systems such as those in France, Spain and the Netherlands.
Efforts by certain rail operators to obtain greater freedom to operate services have met with stiff opposition, with some socialists calling for the entire rail system to be re-nationalised. This agenda came one step nearer to realisation in 2002, when the Labour government of [[Tony Blair]] forced Railtrack into bankruptcy, and split its responsibilities between the Strategic Rail Authority and the government controlled company Network Rail.
Efforts by certain rail operators to obtain greater freedom to operate services have met with stiff opposition, with some socialists calling for the entire rail system to be re-nationalised. This agenda came one step nearer to realisation in 2002, when the Labour government of [[Tony Blair]] forced Railtrack into bankruptcy, and split its responsibilities between the Strategic Rail Authority and the government controlled company Network Rail.
==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* Anson, Mike. ''British Rail 1974-97: From Integration to Privatisation'' (2004) [http://www.amazon.com/British-Rail-1974-97-Integration-Privatisation/dp/0199269092/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243638132&sr=1-4 excerpt and text search]
* Anson, Mike. ''British Rail 1974-97: From Integration to Privatisation'' (2004) [http://www.amazon.com/British-Rail-1974-97-Integration-Privatisation/dp/0199269092/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243638132&sr=1-4 excerpt and text search]