Abstract
Current analyses of the failure of Railtrack commonly blame privatisation and the subsequent fragmentation of the railway network as the main reasons for failure. The prevailing
explanations are characterised by a temporal boundary (pre-post privatisation) and a spatial
separation (fragmentation of the system). However, the available empirical evidence does
not support these assumed boundary characterisations. Our analysis shows that past analyses of Railtrack fail to adequacy consider the role of time and space. We question the conventional mode of thought and turn to viewing the phenomenon of Railtrack in processual
terms and in time and space dimensions. We find that Railtrack was destined to fail due to a
complex mix of interlinkage and interaction of ideology, socio-cultural issues and historical
legacies.
explanations are characterised by a temporal boundary (pre-post privatisation) and a spatial
separation (fragmentation of the system). However, the available empirical evidence does
not support these assumed boundary characterisations. Our analysis shows that past analyses of Railtrack fail to adequacy consider the role of time and space. We question the conventional mode of thought and turn to viewing the phenomenon of Railtrack in processual
terms and in time and space dimensions. We find that Railtrack was destined to fail due to a
complex mix of interlinkage and interaction of ideology, socio-cultural issues and historical
legacies.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 120-134 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Corporate Ownership and Control |
| Volume | 2 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Nov 2005 |
| Externally published | Yes |