The debate on rail privatisation often seems to focus on very narrow issues. Those on both sides of the argument seem to be able to employ a mass of statistics to prove their point. Proponents of privatisation suggest, with some credibility, that all was reasonably well with the privatised...

The politicisation of the transport sector has stifled the market processes that reallocate infrastructure to higher value uses. As a consequence, government transport spending is misallocated on a grand scale. This is particularly apparent on the rail network, where high levels of taxpayer...

The renationalisation of rail infrastructure has not been a success. Network Rail has been plagued by crisis after crisis, with major projects hit by delays, mismanagement and large cost overruns. Its problems echo those suffered by the inefficient nationalised industries of the post-war period....