Archive

1980 Nov 13 - 1984 Jul 30
Prime Ministerial Private Office files

PREM19/1400
Transport (British Rail: review of main line electrification; Hastings-Tonbridge rail service)

Document type: File list item
Source: TNA, PREM19 series
Release date: 2014 Jan 3
Classification: Confidential
Page count: 274
Any docs withheld?

Selections from this file

Showing items 1 - 20 of 40

Per page:
Date Value Title
80 Nov 18 Tue Transport: Norman Fowler PS letter to No.10 ("British Rail programme of main line electrification") [response to MT query as to why programme is ongoing during "this time of public expenditure difficulty"] [declassified Jan 2014]
81 Jan 26 Mon Transport: Norman Fowler minute to MT ("Main Line Electrification") [publication of Dept of Transport/BR Study; "sound financial case for a programme of main line electrification"; MT: "I have great reservations"] [declassified Jan 2014]
81 Jan 29 Thu Transport: Alan Walters minute to Tim Lankester ("Electrification of Railways") [Dept of Transport/BR Study: "The results of the study depend on optimistic assumptions which have been discredited"] [declassified Jan 2014]
81 Mar 5 Thu Transport: Alan Walters minute to No.10 Policy Unit ("Railway Electrification") [Dept of Transport/BR Review; "I am very doubtful indeed if there is anything like a positive case for further electrification"] [declassified Jan 2014]
81 Apr 1 Wed Transport: Alan Walters minute to MT ("Main Line Electrification of British Rail") [Dept of Transport/BR Review: "alarming"] [declassified Jan 2014]
81 Apr 3 Fri Transport: Tim Lankester minute to MT (British Rail Electrification Review) [Alan Walters' comments on Treasury response to his paper] [declassified Jan 2014]
81 Apr 6 Mon Transport: Fowler minute to MT ("Main Line Electrification of British Railways") [Department's comments on Alan Walters paper; rate of return; concentration of rail network] [declassified Jan 2014]
81 Apr 6 Mon Transport: Cabinet Office briefing for MT ("Railway Policy") [Fowler proposals for renewal & electrification programme; proposals for placing orders for BR rolling stock with Metro Cammell] [declassified Jan 2014]
81 Apr 28 Tue Transport: Fowler letter to Head of Central Policy Review Staff (CPRS Study of British Rail's commercial businesses) ["I must ask that the study is completed by the end of May. I am going to come under increasing pressure to make clear the Government's position on electrification"] [declassified Jan 2014]
81 May 12 Tue Transport: Leon Brittan PS letter to No.10 ("British Rail: background briefing") [reply to MT request to see briefing prepared for Brittan constituency meeting] [declassified Jan 2014]
81 Jun 9 Tue Transport: Alan Walters minute to Central Policy Review Staff ("Comments on CPRS Draft on Electrification of British Rail") [rate of return] [declassified Jan 2014]
81 Jun 15 Mon Transport: No.10 letter to Department of Transport ("Sir Peter Parker and British Rail") [MT concerns about renewal of contract in context of potential disagreement over BR long-term plans & electrification proposals] [declassified Jan 2014]
81 Jun 16 Tue Transport: Cabinet Office briefing for MT ("British Rail: Commercial Businesses and Electrification Proposals") [Central Policy Review Staff recommendations] [declassified Jan 2014]
81 Jun 17 Wed Transport: Chancellor of the Exchequer minute to MT ("British Rail") ["Norman [Fowler]'s proposed statement gives me considerable cause for concern... It does not use either the electrification card or... [BR's] present serious financial position to put maximum pressure on BR for the changes which we all know are needed"] [declassified Jan 2014]
81 Jun 19 Fri Transport: Fowler PS letter to No.10 ("Employment effects of railway electrification") [jobs generation forecast for private sector; MT notes failure to consider negating factors] [declassified Jan 2014]
81 Jun 19 Fri Transport: Fowler PS letter to No.10 ("Railway electrification") [MT's revision to Fowler's draft announcement to Parliament of Government's decision] [declassified Jan 2014]
81 Nov 20 Fri Transport: Howell minute to MT (electrification of rail services to Norwich) [the case: "to help Sir Peter Parker to achieve [EFL for 82/83]... I must give him all the backing I can in his difficult dealings with his unions"; MT queries figure for rate of return] [declassified Jan 2014]
81 Dec 3 Thu Transport: Michael Scholar minute to MT (electrification of rail services to Norwich) [MT approves proposal following Alan Walters review of case] [declassified Jan 2014]
83 Mar 10 Thu Transport: Howell minute to MT ("Hastings-Tonbridge Rail Services") [electrification scheme: MT regards case presented by Howell as inadequate & requests to see the information on which his decision was based] [declassified Jan 2014]
83 Mar 28 Mon Transport: Howell PS letter to No.10 ("Hastings-Tonbridge Rail Service") ["You asked to see the base papers on which my Secretary of State had reached his conclusion"] [declassified Jan 2014]