With the political push from Mrs Thatcher British Rail suffered significant cost cutting in the mid 80's. In 84/85 Western Region HQ moved from Paddington to Swindon and London Midlands HQ moved to Birmingham leaving a managerial hierarchy based on HQ's regions and areas. The relocation of London Midland to Birmingham prompted the Board to abandon 222 Marylebone Roadin 1986 which reduced administrative costs by £20m but was made more glamorous by the fact that Claudine's, a massage parlour continued to lease part of the ground floor.

It is now known that British rail was the lowest subsidised railway system in Europe and in the 80's BR had actually turned the corner but Privatisation was unstoppable.....