The graph compares the volumes of goods delivered by four means of
transport in the UK during the period 1974 to 2002.
The amount of goods transported by road was the largest , with around
70 milion tonnes in 1974 . It sharply increased to about 100 million
tonnes in 2002 . The figure for water was lower throughout the period :
it rose from around 40 million tonnes in 1974 to about 58 million tonnes
in 1980 and then stood at this level until 1998 , before climbing to over
65 million tonnes in 2002.
The amounts of goods transported by the other two means of transport
were lower . There was a dramatic fall in the figure for rail transportation
from around 40miion tonnes in 1974 to 30 million tonnes in 1984 ,
although it increased to over 40 million tonnes in 2002 . The pipeline for
transporting goods saw a steady growth from approximately 5 million
tonnes in 1974 to over 20 million tonnes in 1995 , and then it remained
at this level in the rest of the period . Despite the growth , it was the least
popular means of transport.
Overall , almost every means of transport in UK saw an upward trend in
the goods delivery , while there was a different pattern in rail. Road
transportation delivered more goods than any other means of transport.