Lines of Power

The Electrification of British Railways. Trials, Tribulations and Triumphs

Author: John Buxton and Donald Heath

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Description

Written by John Buxton and Don Heath, two experienced rail professionals, Lines of Power delivers a comprehensive record of the stuttering progress of electrification and modernisation of Britain’s railway network, exposing the furtive manoeuvring by competing factions within the railway industry during the 1950s.The book is highly critical of the excessive scepticism of the Department of Transport (DoT later DfT) and the frequent disproportionate, and often imprudent, interventions by politicians that have collectively thwarted the opportunity to progress a more comprehensive and cost effective ‘rolling programme’ of electrification.

About the Author

At 35 years old, John Buxton became the youngest British Railway’s Divisional Civil Engineer in the 1980’s, later becoming the Managing Director of Cardiff Railway Company in the ‘90’s. With a vision to take the South Wales Valley Lines into a modern metro style system, he was thwarted by privatisation and major local political reorganisations, so John left to set up Cambrian Transport Ltd. His company specialises in rail infrastructure, traction and electrification projects. He has worked extensively in the UK, Ireland, Canada and the Middle East, including electrification schemes in England, Wales, Toronto, Doha and Riyadh.Donald Heath has held various positions in British Railways Research Department, the London Midland Region and Transmark. He worked on the design of a new line in Iran in 1976 before becoming a founder member of the Major Projects Department in 1982, subsequently being appointed as a Director in 1988. In this role he piloted the UK’s most successful electrification project - the 400 mile East Coast Main Line between London and Edinburgh . In 1991 he took charge of the BR input into the joint LUL/BR CrossRail project team. Donald became an independent consultant at privatisation, and his clients included Chiltern Railways, Virgin West Coast and Network Rail. He retired in 2017.