Clifford Perry interviewed by Chris Kinchin-Smith (Session 1 of 2)

Made:
2018-07-19 in Berkshire
maker:
Chris Kinchin-Smith

Oral history interview with Clifford Perry, conducted and recorded by Chris Kinchin-Smith in Berkshire on 19 July 2018. Duration: 1 hr. 18 min. 13 sec. Early career; Intercity 125 introduction; general management experience; setting up Angel Trains; Director of Traction & Rolling Stock Network SouthEast (NSE); aimed to make privatisation work; Managing Director Thameslink Train Operating Company (TOC); Thameslink 2000; driver only operation (DOO); difficult relationships with Railtrack; Thameslink management buyout; joint venture partner; reasons for unsuccessful bid; GoVia; impact on family life; Sharesave scheme; lessons from MBO bid process; high fixed costs; potential fleet discussed with Porterbrook; change in bidders’ approach during privatisation; losing bid to GoVia; joining AEA Technology; effects of privatisation on TOCs; Thameslink 2000; AEA Technology sale of rail business; improved understanding of interfaces and safety; effects of volume growth and investment

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:
2021-51
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.