Title: Rail transport in Great Britain - Wikipedia
Headings: Rail transport in Great Britain
Rail transport in Great Britain
Contents
Historical overview
Nationalisation
Privatisation
Semi-renationalisation
Passenger services
Annual passenger numbers
Stations
Inter-city
High Speed 1
Intercity Express Programme
Proposed
High Speed 2
High-speed rolling stock
Local metro and other rail systems
Goods services
Train leasing services
Competition codes of practice
White paper 2004
Competition Commission
Leasing companies (ROSCO)
Spot-hire companies
Statutory framework
Industry bodies
Statutory authorities
Devolved authorities
Network and signalling operations
Other national entities
Trade unions
Regional entities
Freight companies
Open access and other non-franchised passenger operators
1820s–1840s: Early companies
Heritage and private
Proposed line re-openings
Links with adjacent countries
Rail-ferry-rail services
See also
References
Citations
Sources
External links

Content: In 2016, there were 1.718 billion journeys on the National Rail network, making the British network the fifth most used in the world ( Great Britain ranks 23rd in world population). Unlike a number of other countries, rail travel in the United Kingdom has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years, with passenger numbers approaching their highest ever level (see usage figures below). This has coincided with the privatisation of British Rail, but the cause of this increase is unclear. The growth is partly attributed to a shift away from private motoring due to growing road congestion and increasing petrol prices, but also to the overall increase in travel due to affluence. Passenger journeys in Britain grew by 88% over the period 1997–98 to 2014 as compared to 62% in Germany, 41% in France and 16% in Spain. The United Kingdom is a member of the International Union of Railways (UIC). The UIC country code for United Kingdom is 70. The UK has the 17th largest railway network in the world; despite many lines having closed in the 20th century, due to the Beeching cuts, it remains one of the densest networks. It is one of the busiest railways in Europe, with 20% more train services than France, 60% more than Italy, and more than Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Portugal and Norway combined, as well as representing more than 20% of all passenger journeys in Europe.