ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with the history of transport insofar as an appreciation of it is essential to an understanding of the present economic structure and problems of the transport sector. Railways were constrained to be common carriers they had a statutory obligation to carry any traffic offered to them at the published rate. The new Ministry of Transport was also responsible for organising an effective national road system. The first part of the Transport Act 1947 set up a body to be called the British Transport Commission, with the general duty 'to provide an efficient, adequate, economical and properly integrated system of public inland transport and facilities'. It was provided that the assets of the Road Haulage Executive should be sold up piecemeal and that any loss on resale should be met by a levy imposed on all road transport operators.
