Rail industry nationalization

The GB rail industry currently relies on RSSB s Safety Risk Model (SRM) for much of its safety analysis (Dennis Somaiya 2004). The SRM generates a national estimate of risk for each type of hazard on the network, but it does not show how the risk from these hazards is distributed across the network. 

Further to national standards, many industries have promoted and maintained their own standards. One of the most well-known and oldest non-governmental standards organizations is the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), which was established in 1898. It collects and maintains over 12000 standards that are available to the public and include 82 volumes (at a price of 9700 in 2010). The origin of the organization was the desire to improve the quality of the rail system that had been plagued by breaks. 

After the end of the war, munitions machinery was appropriated by the Allies, plants were dismantled, and a large part of the German munitions industry was handed over to the newly-founded Polish state. At Kirchmoser, all machines were sent to France, Belgium, and Serbia, and all buildings were to be destroyed, except the power station. However, in April 1919, all the state-owned powder plants were transferred to the responsibility of the Treasury, and in November, the National Assembly of the Weimar republic decided that they should be adapted to civil production. Accordingly, in 1920, the Kirchmoser plant was given to the Ministry of Transport, and to the newly-founded Deutsche Reichsbahn (German Rail). 

There are many safety features built into motor vehicles today. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sets safety standards for motor vehicles. They change over time. Table 14-1 is a summary of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) also publishes numerous standards for vehicles, including many safety standards. Vehicles include off-road vehicles and even golf carts. Other Department of Transportation agencies also establish vehicle safety standards. The Urban Mass Transportation Administration has safety standards for buses and rail vehicles and the Federal Highway Administration has safety standards for trucks. Industry associations, such as the Truck Trailer Manufacturer s Association, have also produced safety standards. 

The main nationalized industries are represented by the British Airports Authority, British Airways, the National Bus Company, British Coal, the electricity generating and supply boards (central and regional), the Post Office, British Rail, British Shipbuilders and British Steel. They employ about 6 per cent of all British employees. British Aerospace, the National Freight Corporation, Britoil, British Telecom, Associated British Ports and parts of British Rail are among the units formerly in the public sector which have been privatized since 1979. Steps have been taken to encourage competition in energy... 

---