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Future Rail - The Next Decade

Document Summary

A document published by BR as privatisation loomed, and designed to focus the debate on growth and renewal of the railway. A plea is made for projects to be passed by parliament, and for funding to be secured for the next 10 years.

This document was published in July 1991 by British Railways Board.

It was written by British Railways Board.

The original document format was Colour Brochure, and comprised 24 pages.

This document was kindly sourced from Archive Collection and is in our Strategy documents collection. It was added to the Archive on 4th April 2005.

Copyright Information

This document is © BRB (Residuary) Ltd.

"The railways are at a watershed. We are faced with tremendous opportunities, hut if we are to seize them, decisions on projects which will take a decade to complete need to he taken now. For many of them we need the approval of Parliament.

The investment plans in this document are exciting and will contribute to a new era for rail transport. Investment at over £1billion a year is currently running at its highest level for thirty years. The momentum under way must be maintained. To achieve our potential and meet the needs of our customers, we must sustain investment on average at least at these levels throughout the decade.

The expansion opportunities for rail come at a time when the investment in the existing railways is on a steeply rising curve. While dilapidation must be arrested and reversed, the new investments must be undertaken. It is this that gives a new financing structure for the railways a high priority.

The document does not deal with ownership. This is for Parliament and for the Government as shareholder, after consultation with the railway on the practicality and viability of any proposal. That consultation will make clear the impact of any change on the future activity and development plans of what must be a high quality rail network and service by the turn of the century.

The success of the railways is in our own hands. It is only by our performance that we will garner the support to fulfil our plans. The railways have succeeded in the past and the will is there to do so again."