Transport Act 1947

E36324

The Transport Act 1947 was a major piece of post-war British legislation that nationalised the country’s railways, long-distance road haulage, and other key transport services, creating the British Transport Commission.


Statements (47)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom
UK transport legislation
abolishedEntities Great Western Railway
London and North Eastern Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
Southern Railway
aimedTo coordinate transport services under public ownership
nationalise long-distance road haulage in Great Britain
nationalise railways in Great Britain
citation 10 & 11 Geo. 6. c. 49
componentOf post-war nationalisation programme in the United Kingdom
country United Kingdom
created British Transport Commission
effect abolition of the Big Four railway companies
creation of a unified, publicly owned transport system in Great Britain
establishedBody British Transport Commission
followedBy Transport Act 1953
government Attlee government
historicalPeriod post-World War II Britain
implementedAs nationalisation of the Big Four railway companies
introducedBy Herbert Morrison
jurisdiction Parliament of the United Kingdom
language English
legislativeBody Parliament of the United Kingdom
longTitle An Act to provide for the establishment of a British Transport Commission and for the transfer to that Commission of undertakings and property of certain transport undertakings and for purposes connected therewith
monarchAtEnactment George VI
policyArea economic planning
public ownership
politicalPartySupport Labour Party (UK)
precededBy Railways Act 1921
providedFor transfer of canals and inland waterways to public ownership
transfer of certain docks and harbours to public ownership
transfer of long-distance road haulage undertakings to public ownership
transfer of railway undertakings to public ownership
region Great Britain
relatedTo British Railways
British Road Services
British Waterways
royalAssent 6 August 1947
sector transport
shortTitle Transport Act 1947
subject canals and inland waterways in Great Britain
docks and harbours in Great Britain
nationalisation of transport
rail transport in Great Britain
road haulage in Great Britain
yearEnacted 1947


Please wait…