The authoritative and fascinating history of the rise and fall of the state-owned British Rail' 



Uniting disparate lines into a highly competent organisation - heralding 'The Age of the Train' - and, for a time, providing one of the fastest regular rail services in the world. Born into post-war austerity, traumatised, impoverished and exploited by a hostile press, the state-owned railway was dismissed as a dinosaur unable to evolve, and swept away by a government hellbent on selling it off. Now, award-winning writer Christian Wolmar provides a new perspective on national loss in a time of privatisation.



British Rail is ripe for a new history. Praise for Christian WolmarThe greatest expert on British trains' Guardian'Our most eminent transport journalist' Spectator'If the world's railways have a laureate, it is surely Christian Wolmar' Boston Globe 'Christian Wolmar is in love with the railways. He writes constantly and passionately about them.



Wolmar's book is impeccably organized and makes a fast, enjoyable read' THE TIMES Literary Supplement You think you know British Rail. But you don't know the whole story. From its creation after the Second World War, through its fifty-year lifetime, British Rail was an innovative powerhouse that transformed our transport system.



He is their wisest, most detailed historian and a constant prophet of their rebirth . . .