There are currently no products available for your selection
You can try clearing your filters
of 1
Grouping Act 1921
Before the First World War, over 120 companies owned the railways. Competition was fierce, and a lot of companies fell into financial trouble. The intense rivalry even led to railway lines being constructed parallel to competitors to try and steal away business.
The British government took control of the railways during the war, with great success. To try and keep some of the benefits of a centralised system, they created the ‘Grouping Act’ in 1921, which forced the merger of all railway companies into ‘The Big Four’. This eliminated competition and helped to standardise fares.
These groups were:
- Southern Railway
- Great Western Railway
- London, Midland, Scottish Railway
- London and North-Eastern Railway
Shop By Era
The operation of the railway network in the United Kingdom has evolved greatly since the 1826 Liverpool & Manchester Railway Act. Our easy to follow era system highlights all the tracks of change across 11 eras.
Blog & News
Keep up to speed with all the latest news and updates!
