Book reviews 303 doing what is best at each stage without looking ahead, then a Lagrangian relax- ation approach, before discussing optimal branch and bound methods. Chapter 5 progresses from comparing covering and centre problems, through vertex zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA P centre problems, to absolute one centre problems on an unweighted tree, then a two centre problem, and repeats the process for weighted trees; it considers the unweighted P centre problem on a general graph, and progresses through the vertex, and absolute centre problems. Typical exposition here proceeds smoothly via intuitive statement, examples, only then followed by theoretical statements, but with a willingness to omit complex proofs. Chapter 6 is similar, proceeding via one and P median problems on a network, presenting a myopic construc- tion heuristic attempting to build a good solution from scratch, through neighbourhood and exchange improve- ment algorithms, and Lagrangian approaches. Chapter 7 describes methods for trading off incremental transport cost savings against rising fixed costs as new facilities are added. The heuristics described involve either successively adding new facilities one by one until total costs begin to rise, or alternatively, after initially allocating one facility to each demand node, successively dropping them. It commences with an uncapacitated fixed charge problem, followed by optimal solutions which are unstable on small example problems, and larger example problems where only Lagrangian methods guarantee optimality. A dual based approach is presented before similar arguments are extended to include the capacitated fixed charge problem, reducible to a transportation problem. Finally, Chapter 8 explores more complex models, involving multiple objectives, interacting models with multiple products, and exceptional cases where obnoxious products might demand an objective of attemptinmg to maximize distances between facilities and customers. A disk is included with the book, and the programmes on it are easy to install and run, but being DOS based, it is somewhat tedious and inappropriate for a Windows environment. If spreadsheet methods had been employed, it may have enabled simpler application of some of the approaches in Chapter 7. As presented, problem input data has to be input via a 6 column ASCII format. Graphics are good, and options for algorithm choice and sensitivity testing are excellent. However, readers will soon find that some of the suggested adjustments to convergence criteria in heuristic programme applica- tions should be treated with caution, as they can generate long execution times. This is a book which any self- respecting transport geographer will want to own rather than inspect. It demands and deserves respect, and although the enclosed disk will obsolesce, the text will remain an authoritative source for many years, which probably justifies the price tag. John Dinwoodie Department of Marine Studies University of Plymouth, UK The Great British Railway Disaster C. Wolmar Ian Allen Publishing London (1996) 144 pp 0.99 ISBN 0 7110 2469 3 To date, research into the effects of rail privatization has been speculative. Given the speed, complexity and scale of the rail privatization process, the absence of academic literature in this area is understandable. By far the most voluminous contribution to the subject can be found in the press; it comes as no surprise, therefore, that Wolmar’s book is characterized by its journalistic slant. Nevertheless, at first glance, this book might be considered a useful contribution to a topical subject. Its aim is to alert the reader to issues surrounding Wolmar’s apparent bCte noire, rail privatization, drawing princi- pally from the empirical observations of Independent on Sunday readers. Each contribution is accompanied by some follow-up research and analysis by Wolmar, where he attempts to identify the wider issues raised by hapless travellers’ experiences. Lamentably, the briefest second glance reveals this book to be something of a disappointment. The book makes no attempt to hide its allegiance - indeed, it promulgates from the outset its intention to show the folly of the whole privatization exercise. In this vein, Wolmar begins with an acerbic introduction designed as a battle-cry to captivate the hearts of a disillusioned travelling public. However, Wolmar’s text is ineffective for two main reasons. First, his apparent inability to master basic English grammar, such as verb conjuga- tion, is distracting. Second, and most importantly, opinionated tirades are acceptable only if they possess a sound factual base. To the informed reader, however, it is manifestly obvious that Wolmar’s work is often inaccurate. For example, Wolmar states that all 25 Train Operating Companies require subsidy when in fact Gatwick Express does no such thing. His repeated impre- cision undermines not only the contents, but also the raison d’ttre of the book. Why should the veracity of contributors’ experiences be taken for granted if even the author chooses to convey basic information inaccurately? The contributors appear to be a mix of loquacious rail enthusiasts and eminently qualified professionals, chosen presumably as a representative cross-section of Independent on Sunday readers. True, this section of the book makes interesting and amusing reading. Untrue, however, are some of the contentions. This is a shame because, again, the rest of the book is under- mined. For example, Wolmar brings the reader’s attention to a contributor’s experience with InterCity literature. Following the break-up of InterCity into seven TOCs (reading this book, it could be seven or eight - Wolmar appears unable to decide), Wolmar contends that the former InterCity-wide telesales service has been discontinued. This is apocryphal: the service still exists and is noted in A Guide to Inter- City Services. Apart from containing inaccurate contributions, the book also contains unnecessary ones. Indeed, many are not directly associated with privatization and simply highlight contemporary examples of long-term problems. One such contribution involves a journey which unexpectedly took a passenger outside the area covered by her travelcard and resulted in some inconvenience as she was forced to alight from the train and take a bus. Indubitably an unfortunate experience, but also one which predates privatization, a point even Wolmar himself acknowledges. Following each contribution, Wolmar presents his comments. However, punctuating and undermining his analyses are pockets of naivete? (particu- larly regarding security arrangements on Eurostar feeder services) and a failure to pay much heed to the wider issues at hand, such as the importance