User:Lancelot1066

No Time Like The Present to Rebuild Our Railways
The Nations wealth and sustainability is closely tied to its transport network, but since half of the nations rail network way ripped up, we have seen a sixfold increase in road traffic. With 35 million vehicles currently registered in the UK, it doesn't take to many brain cells to work out that road transport is a victim of its own success.

I'm not knocking road transport per se, cars, buses and trucks are part of the inner workings of our society, like 70% of the population that have access to a car I, too, appreciate the convenience and versatility it offers.

You have to look at it this way, with employees arriving late for work, unpredictable delivery times for commerce, industry etc all, increasing road congestion is costing us all dearly. Indeed, the combined cost "to the Nation" of road congestion and traffic accidents exceeds 30 billion pounds per year, then factor into the equation well founded concerns for the environment, accessibility,sustainability, and more. And....in 21st century UK....the fifth largest economy in the world...never forget the bit about choice.

Fact: In 1958 almost 20,000 miles of railway were served by more than 5,000 stations, and a population of 52 Million.

Another fact: In 2009 2,500 stations serve a network of just 10,000 miles, with a population of 61.4 Million.