Aiming for restructuring success at London Underground

Beginning in 1997, the UK government called on London Underground Limited (LUL) to assess its options for a broad restructuring. LUL commissioned an analysis by PA Consulting Group featuring the development and use of a system dynamics simulation model of the Underground. This article describes major aspects of this work, and how use of the dynamic simulation model has evolved to meet LUL's changing needs. The model provided a common framework for analyzing structural options; simulated performance under different potential structures and identified critical aspects of implementation; helped educate LUL's potential private-sector partners about the Underground; and, most recently, enhanced LUL's evaluation of the private sector bids. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.