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 Seal of the BTC, designed byCecil Thomas. It comprises a lion bestriding a composite symbol which includes a wheel; a winged arrow superimposed on a pattern of wavy lines symbolising the activities of the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive; and a pair of torches emitting flashes of lightning, symbolising modern forms of power.[1] | |
| Company type | Statutory corporation[i] |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1 January 1948; 78 years ago (1948-01-01) |
| Defunct | 1 January 1964; 62 years ago (1964-01-01)[ii] |
| Fate | Dissolved |
| Successor | |
TheBritish Transport Commission (BTC) was created byClement Attlee'spost-war Labour government as a part of itsnationalisation programme, to oversee railways, canals and road freight transport inGreat Britain (Northern Ireland had the separateUlster Transport Authority). Its general duty under theTransport Act 1947[10] was to provide an efficient, adequate, economical and properly integrated system of public inland transport and port facilities within Great Britain for passengers and goods, excluding transport by air.
The BTC came into operation on 1 January 1948. Its first chairman wasLord Hurcomb, withMiles Beevor as Chief Secretary. Its main holdings were the networks and assets of theBig Four national regional railway companies: theGreat Western Railway,London and North Eastern Railway,London, Midland and Scottish Railway and theSouthern Railway. It also took over 55 other railway undertakings, 19 canal undertakings and 246 road haulage firms, as well as the work of theLondon Passenger Transport Board, which was already publicly owned. The nationalisation package also included the fleets of 'private owner wagons', which industrial concerns had used to transport goods on the railway networks.
The BTC was one of the largest industrial organisations in the world, and owned a vast number of transport-related assets. The assets owned at its creation included: 52,000 miles (84,000 km) of railway track, 1.3 million freight and service railway vehicles, 40,000 passenger railway coaches, 20,148 locomotives, 93,000 road vehicles, 2,050 miles (3,300 km) of canals, 122 steamships, 54 hotels and 52,000 houses.[11] In March 1953, it had 877,000 staff.[11]
At first, the commission did not directly operate transport services, which were the responsibility of the commission's executives. These bodies were separately appointed, and operated under what were termed 'schemes of delegation'. The act provided for five executives, covering Docks & Inland Waterways, Hotels, London Transport, Railways, and Road Transport.[12]
TheRailway Executive traded asBritish Railways. In 1949, Road Transport was divided into separate Road Haulage and Road Passenger Executives, though the latter proved short-lived.
The commission was permitted to "secure the provision" of road passenger services, although it did not have the general powers of compulsory purchase of bus operators. To obtain specific powers of acquisition it had first to draw up, and get approval for, a 'Road Scheme', area by area. Only one was published, the North East Area Road Scheme, though work began on a second scheme, covering East Anglia; this was never confirmed, as it was fiercely opposed by private and municipal operators.
The quasi-federal structure of commission and executives proved to be an obstacle to integration and was largely abolished by theConservative government with effect from 1 October 1953 (theLondon Transport Executive alone survived). On 1 January 1955, the railways were re-organised on the basis of six area railway boards, which had a wide measure of operational autonomy under the commission's overall supervision. The commission took direct charge of the remaining assets, though these were significantly reduced by the Conservatives de-nationalising much of the road haulage sector. On 1 January 1955, separate managements were also set up for road haulage, hotels, docks and inland waterways.
TheTilling Group sold its bus interests to the BTC in September 1948, as did theRed and White Group in 1950. The Midland Counties Electric Supply Company, a former subsidiary ofBalfour Beatty, had three bus-operating subsidiaries: Mansfield District Traction Co.; Midland General Omnibus Co.; and theNottinghamshire and Derbyshire Traction Co. Midland Counties Electric Supply had been nationalised in 1948 to become part of the newly-createdBritish Electricity Authority (BEA), and on 1 April 1948, the BEA transferred its three bus fleets to the BTC.[13][14] From the railway companies, the BTC also inherited non-controlling interests in many bus companies in theBritish Electric Traction Group. It also manufactured buses for its own use, through the subsidiariesBristol Tramways (from 1955Bristol Commercial Vehicles) andEastern Coach Works. In London and the surrounding area, the BTC ran both the (red) London buses and the (green) country buses, includingGreen Line Coaches, through theLondon Transport Executive.
These assets included canals and navigable rivers, mainly taken over from canal companies – such as theGrand Union Canal Carrying Company andFellows Morton & Clayton – but also those bought out earlier by the pre-nationalisation railways. TheCaledonian Canal was already state-owned. The assets passed toBritish Waterways in 1963,[15] and later to theCanal & River Trust andScottish Canals. As well as the canal infrastructure, BTC also managed canal carrying services.
The BTC inherited the LNER's Railway Museum at York and appointed a Curator of Historical Relics to build up a national collection. Eventually, much of this collection was displayed at the Museum of British Transport atClapham, south London. This closed in the early 1970s and was superseded by theNational Railway Museum atYork and theLondon Transport Museum (now inCovent Garden). The BTC also established theStoke Bruerne Canal Museum.
This includedBritish Railways, including ancillary activities like engineering workshops, andLondon Underground. The former LMS lines in Northern Ireland (seeNorthern Counties Committee) were sold to the Ulster Transport Authority in 1949.
The former railway hotels and catering departments initially came under the control of the Railway Executive, but on 1 July 1948 they were transferred to the Hotels Executive. Between 1953 and 1963, the business operated as British Transport Hotel and Catering Services; and in 1963 it became theBritish Transport Hotels.
This included the local road distribution networks of the pre-nationalisation rail companies, plus the removals companyPickfords, which the railways had owned jointly. To these were added numerous smaller independent concerns taken over at nationalisation, comprising all undertakings predominantly engaged in ordinary long-distance work for distances of 40 miles (64 km) or upwards. These networks were later re-organised asBritish Road Services (BRS).
British Transport Advertising sold space on premises and vehicles.
British Transport Docks (today known asAssociated British Ports), comprising 32 ports taken over from the railway companies.
The BTC had its own film production company,British Transport Films.
TheBritish Transport Commission Police was formed chiefly by the amalgamation of the various railway constabularies.
The shipping executive included former railway steamer services, primarily to France and Ireland and around theScottish coast, and investments inAssociated Humber Lines and theAtlantic Steam Navigation Company.
Tramways: the South London tramways of London Transport, all of which were abandoned by 5 July 1952.
The Travel & Holidays executive traded asThomas Cook & Son.
By the late 1950s the BTC was in serious financial difficulties, largely due to the economic performance of the railways. It was criticised as an overly bureaucratic system of administering transport services and had failed to develop an integrated transport system (such asintegrated ticketing and timetabling). It was abolished byHarold Macmillan'sConservative government under theTransport Act 1962 and replaced by five successor bodies:[16]
These changes took effect on 1 January 1963.[ii] Notwithstanding the abolition of the BTC, theBritish Transport Police continues to exist, and the BTC heraldic shield is still displayed on the force's badge.
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