2/18 John Major's rail privatisation helmsman torpedoes Conservatives' latest reforms

Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar

Christian speaks at length with Steve Norris, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the UK Department for Transport between 1992 and 1996, who was the key Rail Minister serving John Major's Conservative Government in delivering the privatisation of Great Britain's railways and the creation of new industry structures. While reflecting on the passenger growth which followed the 1993 Railways Act as well as candidly examining the shortcomings which emerged, Steve has much to say about flaws in the rail reform programme being promoted by today's Conservative Government, plus some pointed questions for Labour's alternative [2:30]. With the Labour Party having just published proposals for bus reform across England, Christian looks at what this could mean for cities and regions aspiring to enjoy bus networks more like those taken for granted in London [31:48].