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The London Underground Public Private Partnership 1997-2010

From £32.99

The London Underground Public Private Partnership 1997-2010

No Way to Run a Railway

By: Stephen Glaister

From £32.99

Confidential files reveal the bitter feud between Blair, Brown, and Livingstone for the London Underground. Uncover the political spin behind the spectacular collapse of the UK's largest public-private deal—a staggering £450 million failure.

This book provides an inside account of the intense battle between London Mayor Ken Livingstone, Chancellor Gordon Brown, and Prime Minister Tony Blair over control…

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From £32.99

From £32.99

Author: Stephen Glaister ISBN: 1-0364-1694-1 Categories: Social Sciences, Political Science and International Relations, Politics, Urban, Rural and Regional Economics, Industrial Organization

This book provides an inside account of the intense battle between London Mayor Ken Livingstone, Chancellor Gordon Brown, and Prime Minister Tony Blair over control of the London Underground and the failed implementation of the UK’s largest Private Finance Initiative and Public-Private Partnership deal. Despite spending over £450 million on consultancy and five years of government effort, the project collapsed after just seven of its intended 30 years. Using documents released under confidentiality, the book details New Labour’s persistence even as the plan fell apart under scrutiny. It reveals personal struggles, political spin, and character assassinations, while analysing technical issues and expert predictions of failure. The book offers lessons on large-scale public service procurement, comparing private and public ownership, efficient borrowing, consultant use, and the importance of scrutiny and accountability.

Stephen Glaister is Professor Emeritus of Transport and Infrastructure at Imperial College London and Visiting Professor at The
London School of Economics, both in the UK. He was Chair Office of Rail and Road 2016-18; Director the RAC Foundation 2008-15; member of the Board of Transport for London 2000-08; Partnership Director, Tube Lines plc, 2007-10 and non-executive director of London Regional Transport from 1984-93. He was a member of the Steering Group for the 2004 National Road Pricing Feasibility Study, a member of the “Friends” group advising Sir Rod Eddington on his 2006 Transport Study, and a member of the advisory panel to the Oakervee Review of HS2, 2000. He was a member of the Government’s first Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment and a Specialist Advisor to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Transport. He has published widely on transport policy and regulation in the telecommunications, water and gas industries.

Hardback

ISBN: 1-0364-1694-1
ISBN13: 978-1-0364-1694-2
Date of Publication: 2025-01-13

Ebook

ISBN: 1-0364-1695-X
ISBN13: 978-1-0364-1695-9
Date of Publication: 2025-10-10

Paperback

ISBN: 1-0364-6026-6
ISBN13: 978-1-0364-6026-6
Date of Publication: 2025-10-10

Categories: Social Sciences, Political Science and International Relations, Politics, Urban, Rural and Regional Economics, Industrial Organization

Pages: 226

Subject Codes:

BIC: JP, KCU, KNGT
THEMA: JP, KCVS, KNG

Pages: 226

"Professor Glaister forensically explores the labyrinth of the Underground Public Private partnership and reveals a dogma driven waste of energy, expenditure and political capital."
- Sam Mullins Director Emeritus of the London Transport Museum
"It would be easy to forget the London Underground PPP and many would no doubt like to. (…) Stephen Glaister has been one of the most articulate and insightful commentators on this saga and this comprehensive history should be required reading for all ministers and civil servants."
- Jay Walder Managing Director of Finance, Transport for London; Chair and CEO of New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority; CEO of Mass Transit Railway, Hong Kong
"Rail and Tube privatisation have been the fiascos of modern British government. For a quarter century Glaister has studied them with dispassionate care, and learned their costly lessons. Every politician - and every rail traveller - should read him."
- Simon Jenkins Journalist, Author and Columnist

Meet The Author

Stephen Glaister

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