David Prescott interviewed by David Wharton-Street

Made:
2018-04-09 in National Railway Museum
maker:
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.

Details

Category:
Oral Histories
Collection:
Britain's Railways All Change
Object Number:
2020-255
type:
oral history interview
credit:
Britain’s Railways All Change (BRAC) oral history archive, created in partnership with the Friends of the National Railway Museum, the Retired Railway Officers’ Society and the National Railway Museum.