Question – The graph below shows the quantities of goods transported in the UK between 1974 and 2002 by four different modes of transport.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
From 1974 to 2002, the line charts illustrate the four distinct transportation modes in the UK: road, rail, water, and pipeline quality. The charts quantify the amount of goods transported in million tonnes.
In the UK, roads and waterways surpassed pipelines and railroads in the overall amount of goods carried. Rail and water transport accounted for 40 million tonnes in 1974, remaining constant for four years, while road transportation dominated with 70 million tonnes. Following a notable fluctuation, the water mode peaked at 62 million tonnes in 2002, marking an increase of about 19 million tonnes since 1978 and remaining stable for 12 years. However, rail transport experienced a slight decline after four years of consistent demand, reaching 30 million tonnes in 1986. After a period of gradual fluctuation, it returned to the same million tonnes in 2002 as in the initial year. Additionally, the road stands out as the primary mode of transportation, showing growth.
Pipelines were less preferred initially, with only 1 million tonnes in 1974. This amount increased to 21 million in 1982, maintaining stability for a decade before dropping to just 1 million in 1994 and remaining unchanged for an additional period.
Significantly, there was an 80 million-tonne difference between 1990 and 1994, with 22 million tonnes more in 2002 than in 1974.
