The graph below shows the quantities of goods transported in the UK between 1974 and 2002 by four different modes of transport.
The graph illustrates the figure for goods delivered by various means of transport in the UK over a period of 28 years starting from 1974.
Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that all modes of transport carried more goods over time, with road haulage demonstrating the greatest growth. The amount of goods transported by road was highest throughout the period in question, while the opposite was the case for pipelines.
In 1974, the data for goods transported by road was most significant at around 70 million tonnes, whereas pipelines accounted for the lowest figure at merely 5 million tonnes. Over the following 16 years, both statistics grew to relatively similar degrees, with road haulage rising to nearly 80 million tonnes and pipeline transport to slightly under 20 million tonnes. From 1990 to 2002, the former figure continued to rise drastically to finish at a peak of 99 million tonnes, while the latter increased to a lesser extent and ended at 21 million tonnes.
After remaining virtually unchanged at nearly 40 million tonnes of goods transported over the first four years of the duration of the period, the data for water and rail transport thereafter underwent opposite trajectories. Between 1978 and 1990, the quantity of goods delivered by water transportation grew considerably to 59 million tonnes, which was in stark contrast to trains, dipping slightly to 36 million tonnes. Both data then displayed marginal declines and more than complete recoveries, reaching 64 million tonnes and 41 million tonnes for water and rail transport to end the period, respectively.
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