British Transport Commission - Break Up

Break Up

By the late 1950s the BTC was in serious financial difficulties, largely due to the economic performance of the railways. It was criticised as an overly bureaucratic system of administering transport services and had failed to develop an integrated transport system (such as integrated ticketing and timetabling). It was abolished by Harold Macmillan's Conservative government under the Transport Act, 1962 and replaced by five successor bodies:

• the British Railways Board (railways, hotels and some shipping)
• the British Transport Docks Board (docks)
• the British Waterways Board (inland waterways)
• the London Transport Board (London buses and the London Underground)
• the Transport Holding Company (remaining interests, in shipping, travel and road transport)

These changes took effect on 1 January 1963. Notwithstanding the abolition of the BTC, the British Transport Police continues to exist. The BTC heraldic shield is still displayed on the BTP badge.