Department of Transport

Rail privatisation “just the ticket” for passengers and taxpayers – Watts
_______________________________________________________________

date 10 January 1996
source Department of Transport
type Press release

note 11

The extent of progress towards rail privatisation was revealed by
John Watts, Minister for Railways and Roads, who announced in a
Parliamentary Answer that a total of 27 former British Rail
businesses have already been privatised.

Replying to a Parliamentary Question from Hugh Bayley MP (York) , the
Minister said:

"The progress made so far towards a private sector rail industry,
especially the award of the first three franchises to run passenger
services, is excellent news for people who use the railway network
and for the taxpayer. These sales firmly refute any criticism that
the private sector is not alive to the very real opportunities that
privatisation can bring."

Businesses sold so far include:

Freight and other business Sold

Red Star 5 September 1995
Rail express systems Ltd 9 December 1995
Special Trains Unit 31 March 1995

British Rail Infrastructure Service Design Offices

DCU Birmingham 25 July 1995
Mainline Swindon 18 August 1995
IDG Glasgow 18 August 1995
BPE Mechanical and Engineering Consultancy,
Doncaster 15 September 1995

Civil Engineering Design Group, York 15 September 1995
Powertrack Engineering company, Ltd 15 December 1995
CEDAC London Ltd 15 December 1995

British Rail Maintenance business

Swindon Electronic Service Centre 11 April 1955
Chart Leacon
-Ashford 5 June 1995
-Ilford 5 June 1995
-Doncaster 5 June 1995
-Wolverton 6 June 1995
-Springburn (Glasgow) 6 June 1995
-Eastleigh 7 June 1995

British Rail Central Services

Meldon Quarry Ltd February 1994
Baileyfield Switches and Crossings Works 7 July 1995
Ditton Timber Treatment Works 1 September 1995
Quality and Safety Services Ltd 10 November 1995
Occupational Health Services Ltd 30 November 1995
Signalling Control (UK) Ltd 1 December 1995
lnterlogic Control Engineering Ltd 4 January 1996

OBS Services Ltd 3 October 1995

BR Telecommunications Ltd
(sale completed) 21 December 1995

Rolling Stock Leasing Companies

Porterbrook Leasing Ltd 8 January 1995

Sold subject to contract
Angel Train Contracts Ltd
Eversholt Leasing Ltd

"These are exciting times for our railways added Mr Watts. "We are
now seeing the dawn of a new era for Britain where private sector
skills, like we see in the airline industry, will revolutionise train
travel. That should mean a better railway for passengers and freight
customers alike."

Railhub Archive ::: 1996-01-10 DoT-001