Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Grouping Act shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Grouping Act offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Grouping Act at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Grouping Act? Wrong! If the Grouping Act is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Grouping Act then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Grouping Act? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Grouping Act and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Grouping Act wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Grouping Act then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Grouping Act site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Grouping Act, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Grouping Act, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
The
Railways Act of 1921, also known as the
Grouping Act, was an
Act of Parliament by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which the country had derived from a government-controlled railway during and after the
Great War of 1914-1918.
History
The
Rail transport in the United Kingdom had been built up by more than 100 railway companies, large and small, and often, particularly locally, in competition with each other. The parallel railways of the East Midlands, and the "war" between the
South Eastern Railway (UK) and the
London, Brighton and South Coast Railway at Hastings were examples of such local competition.
During World War I the railways were under state control, which continued until 1921. Complete nationalisation had been considered, and the 1921 Act is sometimes considered as a precursor to that, but the concept was rejected; nationalisation was subsequently carried out after World War II, under the
Transport Act 1947.
After consideration of the Railways Bill it was decided that the Scottish companies, originally destined to be a separate group, would be included with the Midland/North Western and Eastern groups respectively, in order that the three main Anglo-Scottish trunk routes should each be owned by one company for its full length: the West Coast Main Line and the
Midland Main Line by the former group, and the East Coast Main Line by the latter.
The opening paragraph of the Railways Act 1921 states:With a view to the reorganisation and more efficient and economical working of the railway system of Great Britain railways shall be formed into groups in accordance with the provisions of this Act, and the principal railway companies in each group shall be amalgamated, and other companies absorbed in manner provided by this Act.
The Act took effect on 1 January
1923. By that date most of the mergers had taken place, some from the previous year. The
Railway Magazine in its issue of February 1923 dubbed the new companies as "The
Big Four British railway companies of the New Railway Era".
These "Big Four" were:
See also a list of List of railway companies involved in the 1923 Grouping.
A few lines remained outside the Big Four, many operated as joint railways. Examples include the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway (M&GN) between the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and the London and North Eastern Railway in eastern England, the largest of the joint railways; and the
Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway (S&DJ) between the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and the Southern Railway (Great Britain) in south-western England, perhaps the most famous of the joint railways. Other exempted railways were light railways under the Light Railways Act 1896 and similar lines; although some such lines still chose to join the Groups. Those lines staying independent were principally those under the influence of Holman Fred Stephens, who had been instrumental in securing the necessary exemption.
External links
- View the text of the Act
- Some historical opinion articles from the University of York
The
Railways Act of 1921, also known as the
Grouping Act, was an
Act of Parliament by the British government of
David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which the country had derived from a government-controlled railway during and after the
Great War of 1914-1918.
History
The Rail transport in the United Kingdom had been built up by more than 100 railway companies, large and small, and often, particularly locally, in competition with each other. The parallel railways of the East Midlands, and the "war" between the
South Eastern Railway (UK) and the
London, Brighton and South Coast Railway at Hastings were examples of such local competition.
During World War I the railways were under state control, which continued until 1921. Complete nationalisation had been considered, and the 1921 Act is sometimes considered as a precursor to that, but the concept was rejected; nationalisation was subsequently carried out after
World War II, under the
Transport Act 1947.
After consideration of the Railways Bill it was decided that the Scottish companies, originally destined to be a separate group, would be included with the Midland/North Western and Eastern groups respectively, in order that the three main Anglo-Scottish trunk routes should each be owned by one company for its full length: the West Coast Main Line and the Midland Main Line by the former group, and the
East Coast Main Line by the latter.
The opening paragraph of the Railways Act 1921 states:With a view to the reorganisation and more efficient and economical working of the railway system of Great Britain railways shall be formed into groups in accordance with the provisions of this Act, and the principal railway companies in each group shall be amalgamated, and other companies absorbed in manner provided by this Act.
The Act took effect on
1 January 1923. By that date most of the mergers had taken place, some from the previous year. The
Railway Magazine in its issue of February 1923 dubbed the new companies as "The Big Four British railway companies of the New Railway Era".
These "Big Four" were:
See also a list of
List of railway companies involved in the 1923 Grouping.
A few lines remained outside the Big Four, many operated as joint railways. Examples include the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway (M&GN) between the
London, Midland and Scottish Railway and the London and North Eastern Railway in eastern England, the largest of the joint railways; and the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway (S&DJ) between the
London, Midland and Scottish Railway and the
Southern Railway (Great Britain) in south-western England, perhaps the most famous of the joint railways. Other exempted railways were light railways under the Light Railways Act 1896 and similar lines; although some such lines still chose to join the Groups. Those lines staying independent were principally those under the influence of Holman Fred Stephens, who had been instrumental in securing the necessary exemption.
External links
- View the text of the Act
- Some historical opinion articles from the University of York
