British Rail 1986 to 1992 – The Evolution of Business Management

Presenter: Mervyn Rogers

Hybrid Meeting both Physically at Shenfield Parish Hall and via Zoom

The British Rail ‘Blue’ era in the 1960’s and 1970’s was organised as regional areas with each region responsible for the infrastructure, the rolling stock and services in their area. BR Blue or Blue/Grey was ubiquitous outside the larger conurbations where PTE liveries were carried.

In 1982 BR moved away from the regional model and created new business units. Passenger Services were split into InterCity, Network SouthEast and Provincial Services (later Regional Railways). Freight was split into Trainload, Speedlink (later Railfreight Distribution) and Freightliner. A parcels sector (Rail Express Systems) was also created.

With the new businesses, new liveries appeared in quick succession and Mervyn’s talk covered pretty much all the different liveries carried in the era by both passenger services and freight locomotives. The first of the businesses to adopt a new livery was InterCity and indeed it was InterCity that was probably the jewel in the crown during this time. Intercity 125 services expanded, The West Coast Main Line introduced Mark 3 coaches and Class 90 locos and the electrification of the East Coast Main Line saw new Mark 4 Coaches and Class 91s introduced as InterCity 225s.

Under Chris Green, the creation of Network SouthEast brought together all the passenger services in the London and South East area with the familiar red, white blue and grey livery. Older first generation, Slamdoor EMUs and DMUs were replaced by new units such as Class 319s, 321s, Networker Electrics and Networker Turbo stock.

Regional Railways was organised under a regional basis with many centred on the larger conurbations controlled by the PTEs but covering much larger areas. Scotrail emerged as a brand for the first time as part of this process. The first generation DMUs were life expired and Regional Railways was the home for the new Pacers, Sprinters and Express Sprinters.

The Sectorisation period covered by the talk was a fascinating period in the history of UK Rail and whilst not intended to be so, formed the foundations of the privatised railway which would take over from 1993.