David Prescott interviewed by David Wharton-Street

Oral history interview with David Prescott, conducted and recorded by David Wharton-Street on 9 April 2018 at the National Railway Museum, York. Duration: 2 hr. 45 min. 19 sec. Introduction to Provincial Sector; approach to privatisation; interface between rail passenger businesses; Regional Railways fares; Railway Bill 1993; performance dialogue with Department of Transport (DoT); rolling stock leasing; interview with Office of Passenger Rail Franchising (OPRAF); move to British Rail Commercial Manager; Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC); management of global rail travelcards; Routeing Guide; National Rail Enquiry Service (NRES); ATOC role; British Rail International/Eurostar; Rail Settlement Plan (RSP); Regional Railways revenue benefits of new rolling stock; perceived Government attitude to privatisation; National Express Scotrail franchise; ancillary businesses; new stations; interaction with Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive; Scottish Government involvement in rail; effect of privatisation on career and family; Organising for Quality (OfQ); Leadership 500; train operating units (TOUs); Railtrack shortcomings; necessity of privatisation; limitations; railway now less cost effective

One of over 150 oral history recordings made as part of the Britain’s Railways All Change (BRAC) archive project. BRAC was set-up to cover gaps in documenting the railway privatisation process in the United Kingdom, between 1994 and 1997, when the government-owned British Rail was dismantled into over 100 privately-owned companies. The interviews capture the recollections of people involved in the planning and implementation of the privatisation process, the management of change and running the railway during privatisation.