Railways Act 1921
| Act of Parliament | |
| Long title | An Act to provide for the reorganisation and further regulation of Railways and the discharge of liabilities arising in connection with the possession of Railways, and otherwise to amend the Law relating to Railways, and to extend the duration of the Rates Advisory Committee. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 11 & 12 Geo. 5. c. 55 |
| Introduced by | Eric Geddes |
| Territorial extent | |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 19 August 1921 |
| Commencement | 19 August 1921 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | |
Status: Partially repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
The Railways Act 1921 (11 & 12 Geo. 5. c. 55), also known as the Grouping Act, is an act of Parliament enacted by the British government. It was intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies by "grouping" them into four large companies, dubbed the "Big Four". The system of the "Big Four" lasted until the nationalisation of the railways in 1947.
During World War I, the British government had taken control, although not ownership, of British railways. The intention behind the Act was to reduce inefficient internal competition between railway companies and retain some of the benefits which the country had derived from a government-controlled railway system during the war. The provisions of the act took effect from the start of 1923.