Title: Rail transport in Great Britain - Wikipedia
Headings: Rail transport in Great Britain
Rail transport in Great Britain
Contents
Historical overview
Nationalisation
Privatisation
Semi-renationalisation
Passenger services
Annual passenger numbers
Stations
Inter-city
High Speed 1
Intercity Express Programme
Proposed
High Speed 2
High-speed rolling stock
Local metro and other rail systems
Goods services
Train leasing services
Competition codes of practice
White paper 2004
Competition Commission
Leasing companies (ROSCO)
Spot-hire companies
Statutory framework
Industry bodies
Statutory authorities
Devolved authorities
Network and signalling operations
Other national entities
Trade unions
Regional entities
Freight companies
Open access and other non-franchised passenger operators
1820s–1840s: Early companies
Heritage and private
Proposed line re-openings
Links with adjacent countries
Rail-ferry-rail services
See also
References
Citations
Sources
External links

Content: The growth in road transport during the 1920s and 1930s greatly reduced revenue for the rail companies. Rail companies accused the government of favouring road haulage through the subsidised construction of roads. The railways entered a slow decline owing to a lack of investment and changes in transport policy and lifestyles. During the Second World War the companies' managements joined together, effectively forming one company. A maintenance backlog developed during the war and the private sector only had two years to deal with this after the war ended. After 1945, for both practical and ideological reasons, the government decided to bring the rail service into the public sector . Nationalisation
Main article: History of rail transport in Great Britain 1948–1994
From the start of 1948, the "big four" were nationalised to form British Railways (latterly British Rail) under the control of the British Transport Commission. Although BR was a single entity, it was divided into six (later five) regional authorities in accordance with the existing areas of operation. Though there were few initial changes to the service, usage increased and the network became profitable.