Interview with Simon Osborne conducted by Frank Paterson on the 13th October 2021 at the National railway Museum, York. Duration 2hr. 52 min. 11 sec. Key topics include Parliamentary Bills; Selby diversion bill; Kings Cross lands Bill; Formation of Railtrack; Liquidation of Railtrack Simon Osborne interviewed by Frank Paterson 2021-10-13
Interview with Paul Smart conducted by Christopher Mew on the 5th of August 2021 in Twickenham. Duration 7min 28 sec.This interview was conducted in a group with Allan galley and Douglas Downie, please see corresponding interviews. Early career; Operations Manager for Freightliner; Post privatisation service reliability; locomotive use; Bidding process; benefits of privatisation for Freightliner and professional life. Paul Smart Interviewed by Christopher Mew 2021-08-05
Oral history interview with Penny Jones, conducted and recorded by Frank Paterson at interviewee's home on 13 April 2023. Duration: 1 hr. 20 min. 59 sec. Study and training in psychology; early career in psychology; Northern Ireland Electricity Privatisation; working with Roger Salmon; consultancy for British Railways, planning the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising (OPRAF); recruitment process, new approach, awaydays, OPRAF implementation; personal reflections Penny Jones interviewed by Frank Paterson 2023-04-13
Oral history interview with John Smith, conducted and recorded by Michael Robson (session 2) at the interviewee's office at GB Railfreight, London on 13 November 2019 (session 2). Duration: 41 min. 18 sec. Heavy haul freight; Class 66 locomotives; political understanding of rail freight; Class 73 refurbishment; Class 92; Caledonian Sleeper; Class 56; Brexit; productivity; overview of current situation; additional infrastructure needed to accommodate growth; safety improvements John Smith interviewed by Michael Robson (session 2 of 2) 2019-11-13
Oral history interview with Ian Yeowart, conducted and recorded by Frank Paterson (session 1) at the National Railway Museum, York on 24 June 2019. Duration: 31 min. 55 sec. Early career; York Travel Centre; Regional Railways; Organising for Quality; Management Buy Out middle managers; preparation for bid outlined; Consultants; presentations to venture capitalists. Ian Yeowart interviewed by Frank Paterson (Session 1 of 2) 2019-06-24
Interview with John Reddyhoff recorded on the 19 of August by Peter Willey. Duration 1hr 23 min. 38 sec. Maintenance experience at Polmadie, Cockerhill and Motherwell; maintenance of Diesel Locomotives; Maintenance of High Speed Trains (HST); Engineering Career; Experience of Industry reorganisation; Creating of Rolling Stock Leasing Companies; Sale of Rolling Stock leasing Companies; Leasing process; Valuation of Railway Rolling Stock; Commercial relationships and collaboration; Railway Industry safety improvements; Comparing British Rail and Post Privatisation industry; Personal Reflections. John Reddyhoff intereviewed by Peter Willey 2021-08-19
Oral history interview with David Douglas, conducted and recorded by Brian Clementson at the interviewee's home in York on 11 June 2021. Duration:31 min. 6 sec. Education; Trainload freight; Track maintenance; Privatisation anxiety; Production Director, eastern Track Renewals Co; purchasing of companies; Formation of Fastline Co; Management Employee Buy out; Jarvis ltd takeover of Fastline; relationship with Railtrack and Network Rail; head of Civil engineering at Jarvis; Senior role in Network Rail; Working on international projects; opinions on privatisation. David Douglas Interviewed by Brian Clementson 2021-06-11
Interview with Donald Heath (session 2) interviewed by Frank Paterson on the 19th July 2021 at Sutton on Derwent. Duration: 44min 35 sec. Background to his appointment as Director of projects- Development of Project Management Manual; Touche-Ross consultancy review; responsibility for East Coast Main Line Electrification (ECML) ; Provincial Rolling Stock; Channel Tunnel Locomotives; Stanstead Infrastructure; major projects; Changes in project Managers; Accountancy and Passenger Ticket issuing System; story of appointment to ECML project; Devolution of project Managers; Possible Management Buy Out; Crossrail reporting lines; personal opinions. Donald Heath interviewed by Frank Paterson (Session 2 of 2) 2021-07-19
Oral history interview with Barry Grant, conducted and recorded by Christopher Mew at another interviewee's home in Herefordshire on 11 December 2019, includes contribution from Monty Hiatt. Duration: 20 min. 6 sec. Earliest Operational Research involvement with privatisation; Operational Research Computerised Allocation of Tickets to Services (ORCATS); factors; Model of Inter-Regional Activity (MOIRA) model; modal split; performance regime creation; revenue allocation and performance regime pivotal Barry Grant interviewed by Christopher Mew 2019-12-11
Interview with Euan Cameron conducted by Richard Goldson at the interviewee’s home in Leeds on the 26th of May 2021. Duration 1 hr. 43 min. 13 sec. Education; British rail management Training; Scottish region operation; Area Manager, Ayr; Network North subsector; Network South East; Privatisation on horizon; Dismantling of Network South East headquarters; Commercial Director for South and East; Rolling Stock issues; Track Access issues; Performance regime issues; First Train operating Company handover; Interface with private sector bidders; Thames Link; Key partners in privatisation; revenue drivers; User groups; Thames Trains; prism rail; Further career thoughts. Euan Cameron interviewed by Richard Goldson 2021-05-26
Interview with Michael Schabas conducted by Frank Paterson on the 9th May 2022. Duration 01hr 44min 38 Sec. Early Career; Olympia &York (O&Y) developments; British rail Contacts; Channel Tunnel Rail Link involvement; Development of St Pancras; involvement in the Jubilee Line Cross Rail; Privatisation opportunities; Founding GB Railways (GBR); Bids for franchises; discussion with OPRAF; Analysis of long form data; bids for Anglia; Awarded £7m guarantee; management retained; sale Class 73 locomotives; GH Railfreight launch and operation; Railtrack relationships First Group purchase of GBR; Consultancy work; First Class Partnerships; attitude to privatisation. Michael Schabas interviewed by Frank Paterson 2022-05-09
Oral history interview with Sonia Braybrook, conducted and recorded by Frank Paterson (session 1) at the interviewee's home in Lincolnshire on 21 January 2020. Duration: 40 min. 24 sec. Early career; British Rail (BR) Legal Department structure; move to Parliamentary division; Terence Jenner; freight contracts; job satisfaction; Railways Act 1993; becoming self accounting unit (SAU); Terence Jenner key to consistency and controls of privatisation; scale of task; external assistance; track access agreements; negotiations with Railtrack and shadow Office of the Rail Regulator (ORR); completing Railtrack vesting; Martin Shrubshole; Peter Trewin; range of contracts; impact on personal life Sonia Braybrook interviewed by Frank Paterson (session 1 of 2) 2020-01-21
Interview with Andrew Cooper conducted by Frank Paterson on the 6th September 2021 in London. Duration 1hr. 37 min. 47 sec. Early career; Management Trainee; Steel and Coal works; Posts in freight at Paddington; Intercity sector jobs; Initial West Coat Upgrade submission; Pendolino Impact; Research; Revenue Allocation; Privatisation; meetings; collective view to support not fight privatisation; Gatwick Airport; Set up of Train operating Companies; Anglia team; Management Buy Out preparation; SERCO; GB Railway Franchise; working relationships; Rolling Stock Companies; 1998 move to Great Western; National Express Central Trains; Arriva franchise bid; Virgin Trains; Trade Union attitudes; opinion on privatisation; reflections. Andrew Cooper interviewed by Frank Paterson 2021-09-06
Oral history interview with Allan McLean, conducted and recorded by Frank Paterson at the National Railway Museum, York on 13 June 2018. Duration: 2 hr. 8 min. 12 sec. Allan McLean interviewed by Frank Paterson 2018-06-13
Interview with Christopher Garnett conducted by Frank Paterson in London on the 20th July 2021. Duration 1hr. 06 min. 33 sec. Education; Commercial Director Eurotunnel; Consultant for Seacontainers; Unsuccessful bids for South Western and Great Western Rail franchises; East Coast Franchise award; Great North Eastern Rail; Bid Process; ex British Rail workers as consultants; east Coat Team; Goals; Impressive Office of Rail Franchising; Management Buy Out team; Rolling Stock Companies relationships; Passenger expectations for privatisation; staff response; Route of Flying Scotsman; Opinions on performance regime; Rail stations; Reflections on process; Relationships with politicians; Open Access dispute with Office of rail Regulation on 2005 bid; Impact of suicides; Compliments about British rail Graduate Scheme Christopher Garnett interviewed by Frank Paterson 2021-07-12
Oral history interview with Alan Deboo, conducted and recorded by David Maidment at the interviewee's home in Wiltshire on 22 September 2020. Duration: 1 hr. 9 min. 41 sec. Early career; joined British Rail (BR) as Personnel Manager 1989; culture comparison; Organising for Quality (OfQ); policies; communications; bargaining; Cannon Street accident; support after accidents; privatisation; travel benefits; advising government; Travel Facilities Working Party; pensions and redundancy arrangements; communication with staff and trade unions; Ministry of Defence; redundancy support package; train operating company (TOC) profits; culture comparison; temporary companies; scale of work; BR sports facilities; advising government on change in trade union bargaining power due to fragmentation Alan Deboo interviewed by David Maidment 2020-09-22
Interview with Douglas Downie conducted by Christopher Mew on the 5th of August 2021 in Twickenham. Duration 32 min. 30 sec. This interview was conducted in a group with Allan Galley and Paul Smart. Please see corresponding interviews. Early career; British Rail involvement in separation of businesses under organisation for Quality; freightliner early candidate for privatisation; Successful bid; assessment of revenue and identifying costs; Basford hall yard, centre for operations; buying new locomotives; West Coast modernisation; haulage of construction materials; British Rail lacked flexibility; partnership in financing with Rolling Stock Companies (ROSCO) backing helpful; new opportunities in coal business; organisation became part of distribution chain with large container and shipping companies; ROSCOs understanding on cooperation; how privatisation benefitted Freightliner; staff relationships; Solutions to problems with Train Operating Companies. Douglas Downie Interviewed by Christopher Mew 2021-08-05
Oral history interview with Gareth Davies conducted by Frank Paterson on the 18th October 2021 in the Union Jack Club, London. Legal Bids relating to privatisation Railtrack division; Realism of Civil Servant ideas; London Bridge Story; Trackside workers vulnerability; train toilet discharge unacceptable; Track access principles; workshops with BR staff; Network code development; People commitments; Shadow Train Operating Companies; Station Access contracts; Railtrack flotation developed with Rothschilds; Personal impact; General Counsel for Transport for London; Personal reflections; case for short contracts; experiences. Gareth Davies interviewed by Frank Paterson 2021-10-18
Oral history interview with Philip Dunkley, conducted and recorded by Christopher Mew at the interviewee's home in Northamptonshire on 10 May 2019. Duration: 11 min. 15 sec. Formation of Safety Case Panels; personal career; safety case process; comparison to safety under British Rail; train operating companies (TOCs) approaches varied Philip Dunkley interviewed by Christopher Mew 2019-05-10
Oral history interview with Stanley Judd, conducted and recorded by Christopher Mew at another interviewee's home in Northamptonshire on 10 May 2019, includes contributions from Philip Dunkley and James Ward. Duration: 21 min. 53 sec. Railway career; completion of safety cases; Chairmen could apply experience to safety considerations; Railtrack approach to safety; contractor management key safety responsibility; remit of safety cases Stanley Judd interviewed by Christopher Mew 2019-05-10
Oral history interview with Steve Murphy, conducted and recorded by Nick Mitchell at St Mary Axe, London on 22 November 2018. Duration: 1 hr. 10 min. 1 sec. Early career; Chiltern Trains management buyout (MBO); culture change; franchise agreement; Adrian Shooter; working with government regulators; 3i; Association of Train operating Companies (ATOC); secondment to Irish Railways (Iarnród Éireann); London Overground; reflections on privatisation and franchising Steve Murphy interviewed by Nick Mitchell 2018-11-22
Interview with Jonathan Bray conducted by Frank Paterson on the 9th September 2021 in Askham Bryan. Duration: 49 min. 49 sec. Education and early interests; campaigning process; recruitment to save Our Railways campaign; Political influence and timetable for privatisation; amendments to Railways Bill; briefing of MPs; Office of Rail Passenger Franchising amended documentation; Rail user Group relationships; Labour attitude to rail; Unions withdrew support to Save Our Railways; Lobbying tactics; all Save our Railway documents in the National Railway Museum archive Jonathan Bray interviewed by Frank Paterson 2021-09-09
Interview with Christian Wolmar conducted by David Maidment on the 16th June 2021. Duration- 57 min, 04 sec. Covering rail privatisation as a journalist and author. Education and early career in retail and marketing; working as a transport correspondence for the independent; Column for Rail Magazine; launch of White paper; Conservative party dissent; British Rail and central Transport Consultative Committee sources; Interview with Bob Reid II; the ‘Deerstalker express’; Ticket office reduction controversy; Sale of Rolling Stock Companies; Press conferences with new Train operating Companies; First privatised train; His Library of press cuttings; Meetings with Bob Horton; working days; party feedback on his articles; views on British Rail structure pre privatisation; Book sales and going freelance. Christian Wolmar interviewed by David Maidment 2021-06-16
Oral history interview with Georgia Ehrmann, conducted and recorded by David Maidment at the interviewee's office in Avanti offices, London on 18 December 2019. Duration: 50 min. 47 sec. Childhood interest in railways; Chiltern Railways internship; Oxford Cowley branch feasibility report; permanent post in same team; customer engagement using Twitter; comparison with British Rail (BR) management training; Network Development Manager 2015/6; Track Access Manager Northern Rail April 2016; Leeds Institute for Transport Studies course; planning Northern Rail timetable change 2018; need for a whole system view over capacity; Head of Commercial Timetable Strategy Virgin Trains 2018; commercial and operating departments interface; complexity of commercial world and timetable needs; Class 220 Voyager replacement strategy 2022; reflections Georgia Ehrmann interviewed by David Maidment 2019-12-18
Oral history interview with Richard Gostling, conducted and recorded by Frank Paterson at the National Railway Museum, York on 3 March 2020. Duration: 52 min. 25 sec. Early career; joined British Rail (BR) Research 1969; Vampire vehicle dynamics software; pantograph design; stoneblower; BR Research becomes a profit centre; relationships; staff uncertainty over privatisation; management buyout (MBO) bid; financing; Peter Watson; Managing Director AEA Technology; bid unsuccessful; contrast with Railtrack; relationships; research offers; culture change; Technical Director Railway Industries Association (RIA); Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMECHE) changed role; fragmentation of BR; reflections on privatisation; quality staff Richard Gostling interviewed by Frank Paterson 2020-03-03
Interview with Alan Galley, conducted by Christopher Mew on the 5th of August 2021 in Twickenham. Duration 19 min. 6 sec. This interview was conducted in a group with Douglas Downie and Paul Smart, please see corresponding interviews. Early career; becoming Managing Director of privatised Freightliner business; Freightliner management bid; Bid team; Business plan; Crewing considerations; Pay; new ways of working accepted; Trade Union supportive; overall improvements. Alan Galley Interviewed by Christopher Mew 2021-08-05
Interview with Peter Sturt Conducted by Christopher Mew on the 5th of August 2021. Duration 54 min. 49 sec. early career; Invitation to be privatisation manager network South East; Reporting procedure to British railway Board, Legal Advisers, Department of Transport; Office of Passenger Rail and Office of Rail Regulation; Focus of project; Relationship with Network Rail; relationship with proposed Train operating Companies (TOCs); development of agreements; Formation of Rolling Stock Companies; Target of processes; legal documentation; facility access agreements; Document completion processes; Key approvals for British Railway Board; TOC bids; requirements for privatisation; safety case work; Track access; Station leases; additional agreements for computer services; Schedule 8 performance regime; 1993 privatisation act implementation; outcome of process and personal views; outstanding items- Compensation for Thameslink 2000 project works; cab secure radio systems; waivers regarding development items; specification issues; property agreements. Peter Sturt Interviewed by Christopher Mew 2021-08-05
Oral history interview with Sonia Braybrook, conducted and recorded by Frank Paterson (session 2) at the National Railway Museum, York on 11 February 2020. Duration: 1 hr. 10 min. 21 sec. Complexity of privatisation process; sectors worked without contracts; contracts required By Railway Act 1993; dispute resolution; self accounting unit (SAU); track access principles developed by Nigel Dewick (Railtrack lawyer); Office of the Rail Regulator (ORR) role; Tom Winsor; preparing sale of freight; developing standard contracts; personal experiences; freight contracts approach; Claims Allocation and Handling Agreement; Section 8 license agreements; safety cases; Control mechanisms for working groups; freight vesting; reflections on work; voluntary redundancy; setting up independent legal firm for freight companies; recruited by English, Welsh and Scottish Railway (EWS) to establish a legal department; EWS involvement in Southall accident; EWS management ethos; Severn Tunnel inspection Sonia Braybrook interviewed by Frank Paterson (session 2 of 2) 2020-02-01
Oral history interview with Michael Siebert, conducted and recorded by David Maidment at the interviewee's home in Reading on 9 June 2021. Duration: 1 hr. 49 min. 16 sec. Education, early career; 1974 Health & Safety Act; fire and explosion expert for Health and Safety Executive (HSE); joined British Rail (BR) as Head of Safety Audit 1990; health and safety development in railways; railway safety regulations; train accident investigation; Career as chemist in private industry and Health & Safety Executive, safety audit with fire & explosion specialism, joined BR to develop safety audit post Clapham accident. Implemented Safety Audit and Safety Validation process on BR pre privatisation and used these systems within Railtrack Safety Case to validate and audit privatised railway companies. Part of massive change of safety culture between 1990 and 1995 pre privatisation. Michael Siebert interviewed by David Maidment 2021-06-09
Interview with Mick cash conducted by Frank Paterson on the 27 October 2021 in the Railway Maritime Transport Union headquarters in London. Duration 01hr. 33min. 37sec. Early Career; Trade union involvement; labour party member; Merger with NU Seamen 1990; roles of president/General Secretary and Executive; British Rail/Railway Maritime Transport Replace Machinery for negotiation; prelude to privatisation; impact of Clapham; impact and tasks of RMT; Bargaining tactics; British Rail paybill deductions; NEC attitude to privatisation; Two tier railway workforce; NEC negotiating team; Railtrack easiest to privatise; signalman’s dispute; personal involvement; changes in local relationships; personal 1994-2002; Development of RMT blue book of aspirational terms and conditions for all technical staff; elected assistant general secretary RMT; value of corporate memory; reflections; Save our Railways; Jimmy Knapp; Guard issues; ballot Driver Only Operation; voting; Involvement with Keith Williams Review; funding mechanisms. Mick Cash Interviewed by Frank Paterson 2021-10-27
Oral history interview with Christine MacLean, conducted and recorded by Frank Paterson at the National Railway Museum, York on 3 January 2020. Duration: 1 hr. 1 min. 5 sec. Signalling & Telecommunications (S&T) Tracer Stratford; Property Board York; training as surveyor; selling closed railways; Whitby to Scarborough; selling railway houses; Selby diversion land purchases; cash flow; British Rail Investment Services created; Hull Dairycoates sale; Anglia Region 1989; property management; joined Railtrack; station leases to train operating companies (TOCs) prior to franchises; Railtrack information technology (IT) difficulties; retirement; Railtrack unrealistic targets Christine MacLean interviewed by Frank Paterson 2020-01-03
Oral history interview with Nick Brown, conducted and recorded by Frank Paterson at the interviewee's office in London on 21 August 2019. Duration: 2 hr. 32 min. 38 sec. Early career; Assistant Station Manager Edinburgh Waverley; Polmont accident; Glasgow Central Station Manager; Chris Green; station music; Birmingham International; John Prideaux; sectorisation tensions; Retail Manager West Midlands; Leadership 500; privatisation; InterCity advert; Association of Train Operating Companies; management buyout (MBO) workshops; Richard Brown; Midland Mainline (MML) MBO; British Railways Board (BRB) support; Genesis 125; Paul King; bid progress; access agreements; penalty regimes; liaison with other MBO teams; meetings; Ernst & Young; competitors; franchise awarded to National Express; organisational culture and structure; financial arrangements with National Express; customer service initiatives; staff training; Railtrack; culture; track access process; developing company image; toilet provision; family marketing; market analysis; reflections Nick Brown interviewed by Frank Paterson 2019-08-21
Oral history interview with David Glyndwr, conducted and recorded by David Maidment at the interviewee's home in Bedfordshire on 21 May 2021. Duration: 1 hr. 2 min. 31 sec. Head of Management Accounting for British Rail, Cardiff Division and other Rail Companies; Academic history; Public Service Obligation with the Treasury; Negotiations with Treasury and Department of Transport; His work as Managing Director of Rail Express Parcels; Royal Mail hub at Willesden- Mail contract lost due to Privatisation; Freight sales; Personal feeling on privatisation; Management Buy Out (MBO); Sale of Rail Express Systems to English, Welsh and Scottish Railways; Sale of Rai freight Distribution (RFD)- Eurotunnel Contract; Redundancy; Project work for Residual Railways Board; National Audit office challenge of RFD sale; briefing permanent secretary on RFD sale; Interaction with bankers and lawyers; Privatisation Steering Group; Rolling Stock Company sale; Purchase of Thameslink and Hitachi Trains; Should have retained sector model with vertical integration David Glyndwr Williams Interviewed by David Maidment 2021-05-21
Interview with John Tilley conducted by Frank Paterson on the 9th of November 2021 in the RMT offices in Liverpool. Duration 2 hrs. 14 min. 40 sec. Signalman training; Trade union branch; signalman’s representative; conferences; elected to National Executive Committee 1993; Train Operating Companies responses and issues; Union use of Preparing for Privatisation machinery; Department of Transport intervention; integrity statement; signalman’s strike 1994; resolution; National Executive role on privatisation; secondment to full time union work; Parliamentary Select Committee; key amendments; 1993 2 day strike; British Rail; Response; Working Parties on Privatisation; 92 procedure designed; going back to work as a signalman; re-election to the National Executive Committee in 2000; signalman’s ballot; Joint Working Party; negotiations; RMT headquarters sold; 2003 change Railtrack to Network Rail; Railtrack National Council effectiveness and processes; move to full time employment by RMT in 2005; national structure of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport; cases; meetings; outcomes; recent issues; Personal reflections. John Tilley Interviewed by Frank Paterson 2021-11-09
Oral history interview with Sir Moir Lockhead, conducted and recorded by Richard Goldson at the Chaplain's office, Paddington station on 14 February 2019. Duration: 56 min. 50 sec. Personal background; political moves towards privatisation; First Group branding; initial corporate plan; Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP); First Great Eastern franchise; comparative size of bus/rail companies; risk management; balance of cost and revenue projections; first impressions of rail; focus on safety; transferable lessons from buses; relationship with Railtrack/Network Rail; integrated transport; management of acquired companies; open access operation and competition; interactions with government bodies; industrial relations; reflections; effects of privatisation Sir Moir Lockhead interviewed by Richard Goldson 2019-02-14
Oral history interview with Gareth Hadley, conducted and recorded by Nick Mitchell in London on 13 December 2018. Duration: 1 hr. 21 min. 46 sec. Greater London Council (GLC); recruitment to British Rail Group Employee Relations Manager; meeting with trade unions; National Union of Railwaymen (NUR); Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA); Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF); first industrial dispute; politicians and Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS); Collective Bargaining Arrangements (CBA); privatisation discussions; setting up train operating companies (TOCs); preparing TOC directors for privatised industry; Scotrail dispute; succession planning; Promotion Transfer and Redundancy arrangements (PT&R) Gareth Hadley interviewed by Nick Mitchell 2018-12-13
Oral history interview with Robert Goundry, conducted and recorded by Christopher Mew on 15 January 2019 (session 2) at the interviewee's home in Warwickshire. Duration: 25 min. 53 sec. Implementation of privatisation; privatisation unsuccessful in North West; lack of real competition post-privatisation; separation of track and trains; effect of privatisation on station staff service; personal feelings about privatisation; overview of privatisation Robert Goundry interviewed by Christopher Mew (session 2 of 2) 2019-01-15
Oral history interview with Anthony Smith, conducted and recorded by Chris Kinchin-Smith at the interviewee's office in Transport Focus office, London on 13 June 2019. Duration: 1 hr. 16 min. 49 sec. Early career; joining Central Rail Users’ Consultative Committee (CRUCC); training from Which? Magazine; Consumers International; evolution of passenger consultative committees; relationships; Strategic Rail Authority (SRA); Chris Austin; Alistair Moreton; Richard Bowker; passenger perceptions of privatised train operating companies (TOCs); lack of evidence base; National Rail Passenger Survey (NRPS); Rail Passenger’s Council (RPC) evolved into Passenger Focus; evolution of franchising model; meeting passenger needs; research before each new franchise; growth in passenger numbers; submissions to Williams Review; passenger satisfaction drivers; importance of punctuality and reliability; passenger views on industry structure; success of privatisation for passengers; Transport for London (TfL); achievements; passenger voice embedded in franchising process; penalty fares processes improved; environmental concerns effects; importance of staffing; British Rail (BR) management training quality Anthony Smith interviewed by Chris Kinchin-Smith 2019-06-13
Oral history interview with John Edmonds, conducted and recorded by Frank Paterson at the interviewee's home in London on 31 October 2019. Duration: 58 min. 23 sec. Early career; freight studies; Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) contract; Sector Director Provincial; development of profit centre management data; creation of Anglia Region 1989; sectorisation; Organising for Quality (OfQ); integrating mechanical engineers; overhead line equipment (OLE); implementation of OfQ in Provincial; Richard Goldson; Bob Reid 2; Bob Horton; Railtrack non-executive relationships; setting-up Railtrack; relationships with Department of Transport; Chris Leah; Michael Holden; personal reflections; retirement John Edmonds interviewed by Frank Paterson 2019-10-31
Oral history interview with Andrew Bliss, conducted and recorded by Gordon Dudman at the interviewee's office at Network Rail, Crewe on 23 March 2018. Duration: 1 hr. 5 min. 16 sec. Early career; changing nature of parcels business; Rail Express Systems (RES); InterCity allowed development of premium parcels business; business needed the support of all operations staff; realisation that privatisation would allow Red Star to control costs; impact of privatisation on decisions as Red Star Manager Birmingham; responsibility for 110 staff; Red Star Production Manager; first steps of privatisation early 1990s; Adrian Shooter (Managing Director Parcels); Ivan Coucher (Managing Director for Red Star); managerial appointments; different priorities of ex-British Rail (BR) managers and external managers; new general managers; appointment as Production Manager; early management buyout (MBO) discussions; early decisions to restructure Red Star; privatisation appropriate for parcels distribution business; outside management practices in Red Star replicated; views on privatisation of Red Star and wider rail industry Andrew Bliss interviewed by Gordon Dudman 2018-03-23
Oral history interview with Stuart Baker, conducted and recorded by David Wharton-Street (session 3) at the interviewee's home in York on 12 December 2018. Duration:49 min. 15 sec. Arriva franchise management; disputes process; Part 1 Access Disputes Resolution Committee (ADRC); Part 2 Railway Industry Disputes Resolution Committee (RIDRC); examples of ADRC; Railtrack’s speed restrictions; importance of resolution committees; franchises and rolling stock; open access operators; Regional North East (RRNE) bids; traffic growth Stuart Baker interviewed by David Wharton-Street (session 3 of 3) 2018-12-12
Interview with Martin Shrubsole conducted by Frank Paterson on the 9th July 2021. Education; British Rail management trainee; Supervisory posts Edinburgh, Glasgow Bridgeton, Patrickhill; catholic/protestant disputes; Bowling Oil terminal accident; Scottish Region Freight analysis; various roles in Management assistance; Passenger Charter development; move to Marketing Managerial positions; Iron and Steel; overhaul of iron ore operations; Coal Marketing Manager; overhaul of domestic coal; Coal merchant tenancies on British Rail land principal lever- wagon utilisation; Cost allocations; Coal strike; Secondment to Civil service Highways Division; establishment of the Highway Agency; Provincial Services project-transfer of British rail assets to local authorities; name change-Regional Railways; preparation of freight for privatisation; Civil service interest in USA freight railway services; British railway Board development of three shadow companies; Track access; rights of different sections; Code of Practice; Timetabling issues; developing track access arrangements; Office of Rail Regulation criteria; attitudes; development of standard performance regimes necessary; Changes from first franchise; reflections Martin Shrubsole interviewed by Frank Paterson 2021-07-07
Oral history interview with Dominic Booth, conducted and recorded by Dick Fearn at the interviewee's office in Abellio Headquarters, London on 30 April 2018. Duration: 40 min. 46 sec. Career overview; military approach to management in British Rail (BR); InterCity sector in the East Anglia division at privatisation; setting up Isle of Wight Railway; move to South Eastern Train Operating Company prior to privatisation; management buyout (MBO) bid; sadness over bid failure; beginning of Connex South Eastern; decision to move on; Prism Welsh franchises situation; formation of Welsh Assembly; comparison of passenger rail services before and after privatisation; post-privatisation rail industry Dominic Booth interviewed by Dick Fearn 2018-04-30
Oral history interview with Mervyn Rogers, conducted and recorded by Frank Paterson at the RAF Club, Piccadilly, London on 12 March 2020. Duration: 1 hr. 15 min. 11 sec. Early career; area management; Lew Adams; train service management; joined Deloitte Haskins & Sells; transport and distribution projects; Coopers merger; EC Directive 91/440 implications; separation of track from trains; train paths; Terry Worrell; Ivor Warburton; Treasury pressure; vertical integration issues; advising on access agreements after EC Directive 91/440; infrastructure maintenance and renewals; shadow train operating companies (TOCs); reflections Mervyn Rogers interviewed by Frank Paterson 2020-03-12
Interview with Robert Thornton conducted by Richard Malins in Reading on the 12th July 2021. Duration 1hr. 16 min. 59 sec. Career introduction; pre nationalisation structure; move to business structure; creation of architecture and design group; Management Buy out; current role; Development of Modular Concepts; key design issues; signage; British rail corporate identity; use of alphabets and fonts; awareness of Railway heritage; building architecture; Kings Cross St Pancras; Liverpool Street-last British rail in house architectural project; Tiverton parkway Station project; Architecture and Design group role changing; Experience of working with listed buildings; writing his book; changing budget for stations; Station Regeneration Programme; building maintenance and condition of railway station estate is an important benefit of privatisation. Robert Thornton interviewed by Richard Malins 2021-07-12
Interview with David Allen conducted by Richard Spoors on the 26th of January 2022. Duration 1 hr 49min 45 sec. Early Life; early career; Career in the civil Service; Training with the Ministry of Defence; Costing and Budgetary work; Joins British rail as a Computer Auditor; Training as a Systems Analyst; Moved to Doncaster as Divisional Finance Officer in the Operating Division of the eastern Region; Divisional Finance office structure; meeting Bob Reid; new Role as British railways Board presenter at finance courses; Lecturer at business schools; Government/railway relationships; Public sector Obligation Grant; external financing limits; cost analysis and control; sectorisation; Railtrack; Transmark position in Botswana for 14 months; Role as Corporate Budgets officer in London for all things non-rail; non rail businesses sold off in 1980s; sale of BRB property; Sectorisation and the future of privatisation; development of incremental cost analysis; Director is Finance at Railtrack; development of Railtrack accounting system; problems; Retirement in 1996; Railtrack’s business ethos; Pension Funds; Reflection and conclusion David Allen interviewed by Richard Spoors 2022-01-26
Oral history interview with Dr. Paul King, conducted and recorded by Frank Paterson at the interviewee's home in London on 29 August 2019. Duration: 2 hr. 2 min. 26 sec. Early career; Tube Investments; British Shoe Corporation; headhunted by British Rail 1991; Gordon Pettitt (Managing Director Regional Railways); investment submissions; Class 323; Strategy Review analysis; quantifying social benefits; privatisation; Railtrack; contractual relationships; ticket sales allocations; Managing Director Regional Railways; shadow train operating companies (TOCs); John Welsby track access agreements; station access agreements; Chairman North & West; management buyouts (MBOs); Mark Causebrook; Paul Watkinson; performance regimes; information memorandum; passenger transport executives (PTEs); Theo Steel; Gareth Hadley; Chris Green; John Ellis; MBOs; franchising process; Ivor Warburton; Scotrail; National Express; reflections on privatisation Dr. Paul King interviewed by Frank Paterson 2019-08-29
Oral history interview with Christopher Jago, conducted and recorded by Mike Hodson at the interviewee's home in East Sussex on 19 June 2018. Duration: 56 min. 13 sec. Early career; Network SouthEast (NSE); Railtrack; Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL); privatisation briefing; proposed structure seen as overly complex; Director of Restructuring; new structure placed excessive demands on engineer staffing; Hatfield accident; Network SouthEast restructuring process; post-privatisation issues; re-branding during privatisation; performance regimes; no incentive for train operating companies (TOCs) to mitigate delay; setting up Railtrack South; benefits of privatisation; NSE budget constraints; Railtrack transition into private ownership; effects of privatisation; Railtrack in Administration; shareholders; CTRL; summary of privatisation Christopher Jago interviewed by Mike Hodson 2018-06-19
Second session of Interview with Ian Yeowart conducted by Frank Paterson on the 23rd June 2021 in the National Railway Museum, York. Duration 1hr. 46min. 35 sec. Management Buy Out team for Midland main Line, appeal; National Express Awarded Midland Franchise; redundancy; Management Buy Out bid registered in name of Grand central; Selling to Great north Eastern Railway to Sea Containers; Business plans; BBC information; Go Cart Business in York- Monks Cross; open access opportunities; retained Grand Central name; introduction of first open access service in 2004; development; Arriva; Great North Easten Railway judicial review; Porterbrook HST bought; revenue abstraction claim by GNER disputed; company buy out by Arriva; Later career; comments on current railways. Ian Yeowart interviewed by Frank Paterson (session 2 of 2) 2021-06-23
Interview with Paul Salveson, conducted by Frank Paterson on the 15th August 2021 at the National Railway Museum, York. Duration 1hr. 5min. 17sec. Childhood; Train spotting; National Union of railwaymen District secretary, Manchester; Serpell Report; Civil Engineer Euston; Property Board, Manchester; Union Involvement; Resignation from British Rail; Transnett; Alternative Solutions to privatisation; Political influences; Community rail Partnerships; European Rural Railway developments; local Authority Ownerships; County Council sources of research funding; Penistone line; Devon/Cornwall Partnership; Regional Railways; key Supporters; Music Train; Development of Association of Community Rail partnerships (ACORP); Community Rail Development Strategy Report; Office of Passenger Rail Franchising- Strategic rail Authority Community Unit, parliamentary lobbying; Alternative Solutions to Privatisation Publication- Think Tank; devolution to Local Government, central guiding mind with strong regions; Counter Strategies; save our Railways; Political influences. Paul Salveson interviewed by Frank Paterson 2021-08-15