Who is the Rail Authority?

[TUC]

On most rail bridges there are bridge strike signs advising the public who to contact if the bridge is hit by a vehicle. A number of these say 'contact Network Rail on xxx', some still say 'contact Railtrack' but some say 'contact the Rail Authority'. Who was this final term intended to refer to? Does it suggest that a number of the bridge strike signs were put up in the period between end of Railtrack/start of Network Rail and so it was a holding phrase that was used or is there some other explanation?

 

[krus_aragon]

I think it's a reaction to the fact that the "contact Railtrack" signs refer to a body that no longer exists. The current rail authority would be Network Rail, but those signs that read "Rail Authority" will still be correct if Network Rail is spun off / renamed / nationalised etc...

 

[TUC]

I think it's a reaction to the fact that the "contact Railtrack" signs refer to a body that no longer exists. The current rail authority would be Network Rail, but those signs that read "Rail Authority" will still be correct if Network Rail is spun off / renamed / nationalised etc...

Although if that is the case why is 'Network Rail' used on some signs?

 

[pdeaves]

Although if that is the case why is 'Network Rail' used on some signs?

Probably because those signs were put up before someone thought to create a 'generic' label (same as why Railtrack is used on some signs; the sign was put up before a change took place).

 

[Dr Hoo]

Although if that is the case why is 'Network Rail' used on some signs?

Worth noting that not all low bridges are owned by Network Rail. The 'authority' may be Transport for London, Manchester Metrolink or whatever.

 

[matt_world2004]

I thought rail authority signs was from the british rail era. And the newer one specify contact Railtrack/Network rail.

 

[mallard]

if Network Rail is [...] nationalised

Network Rail is nationalised. The old "we'll pretend it's private to hide the financial liabilities from the NAO" arrangement ended in 2014.

But yes, "Rail Authority" is a generic phrase designed to prevent the need to chnage signs every time the government thinks it's a good idea to meddle with things. Of course, there are plenty of British Rail (and even a few earlier) signs around the network, as well as those marked with "Railtrack" and "Network Rail", so the effect it just to add confusion.