Christopher Garnett interviewed by Frank Paterson

Interview with Christopher Garnett conducted by Frank Paterson in London on the 20th July 2021. Duration 1hr. 06 min. 33 sec. Education; Commercial Director Eurotunnel; Consultant for Seacontainers; Unsuccessful bids for South Western and Great Western Rail franchises; East Coast Franchise award; Great North Eastern Rail; Bid Process; ex British Rail workers as consultants; east Coat Team; Goals; Impressive Office of Rail Franchising; Management Buy Out team; Rolling Stock Companies relationships; Passenger expectations for privatisation; staff response; Route of Flying Scotsman; Opinions on performance regime; Rail stations; Reflections on process; Relationships with politicians; Open Access dispute with Office of rail Regulation on 2005 bid; Impact of suicides; Compliments about British rail Graduate Scheme

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.