Chapter 7: Privatization in Transport

By the 1970s, in much of the world, transport had become a largely public sector activity. Roads, railways, airports, and many ports were publicly owned. Rail, most bus and coach, and many air services were provided by public sector operators. The one big exception to the rule was road haulage, which was often provided by a mix of large and small private sector companies, and where in any case much activity was undertaken by private companies on their own account.

In the 1980s, transport policy moved progressively in the direction of the market approach, and widespread privatization of transport operations and sometimes even infrastructure took place. One of the pioneers in this development was the UK, under the government of Margaret Thatcher. Significant events were: