logo

Video encyclopedia

British Rail

2:09

Britain faces biggest rail strike in over 30 years – report

3:32

Great British Railway plan promises simplified fares in biggest rail shake-up since privatisation

2:18

‘Mass disruption’ expected as British rail workers launch biggest strike in decades

2:27

The British Rail Flying Saucer

0:43

1970s Passenger train | British Rail | 1970s London | 1970s Flats | Report | 1971

British Railways (BR), which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the state-owned company that operated most of the overground rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages between 1994 and 1997. Originally a trading brand of the Railway Executive of the British Transport Commission, it became an independent statutory corporation in 1962 designated as the British Railways Board.
  • Nationalisation in 1948 

  • Regions 

  • 1955 Modernisation Plan 

  • Post-Beeching 

  • Pre-1960s 

  • 1960s 

  • Post-1960s 

  • Finances 

  • Investment 

  • Privatisation 

  • Network 

  • Preserved lines 

  • Ships 

  • Sealink 

  • Hovercraft 

  • British Rail Engineering Limited 

  • Advanced Passenger Train 

  • InterCity 125 

  • Successor companies 

  • Future 

  • Parodies 

  • History 

  • Divisions, brands and liveries 

  • Classification and numbering schemes 

  • Rolling stock 

  • Other