sentences:  The Franchising Director's main function was to sell passenger rail franchises to private sector companies participating in the privatisation of the British railway industry.On 1 February 2001 the position of Franchising Director was abolished by the Transport Act 2000 and the passenger rail franchising functions were transferred to the newly created Strategic Rail Authority.The SRA was in turn abolished in 2006 and the SRA's franchising functions were taken over by the Secretary of State for Transport.