The line graph shows the amounts of goods transported in the UK between 1972 and 2000 using four different ways: road, water, rail, and pipeline, measured in milliontonnes.
In general, road consistently transported the largest amount of goods over the period, followed by water and rail, while pipeline remained the least utilized. Road and pipeline showed steady growth, whereas rail fluctuated and ended at a similar level to its starting point.
Road transport started at 70 million tonnes in 1972, a figure that then rose steadily, reaching 100 million tonnes by 2000, making it the most used mode throughout the period. Water transport, the second most significant, began at 40 million tonnes and this was followed by a notable rise to 60 million tonnes in 2000, despite experiencing a slight decline in the 1996
Pipeline, starting at only 5 million tonnes in 1972, showed gradual growth, reaching 20 million tonnes by the end of the period. Meanwhile, rail transport began at 40 million tonnes but saw a dip to 30 million tonnes in the early 1980s, after which it recovered to finish at the same level as its starting point. Despite fluctuations, rail remained less significant compared to road and water transport.