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Is the British rail system good?

The UK was ranked eighth among national European rail systems in the 2017 European Railway Performance Index for intensity of use, quality of service and safety performance.



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The rail regulator's latest official statistics show that for the quarter October to December 2022, Britain's railways saw 4.5% of all planned trains cancelled, the highest since the record began in 2014*.

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Japan: Japan is often praised for having one of the world's most efficient and punctual railway systems. The country is known for its high-speed Shinkansen (bullet trains) and extensive network of commuter and regional trains. Japan's commitment to safety, cleanliness, and customer service is also noteworthy.

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At the point of privatisation there was not enough revenue in the rail system to meet operating costs, capital investment and the claims of shareholders. Like most countries, Britain's rail system was and still is loss-making. To make up the revenue shortfall, the government introduced a system of public subsidies.

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The reasons for this are varied: from the privatisation of the rail industry to the rising cost of infrastructure. The UK does not have fixed rates like other European countries such as France, which can result in flight tickets being cheaper than a regional train journey in the UK.

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The United States possesses the largest railway network in the world, in terms of total operating length.

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hsr delivers the safest transport High Speed Rail is the world's safest form of transportation proven by decades of operations all around the world. Japan was the first nation to build high speed rail in 1964, and has since transported 10 billion passengers without a single injury or fatality!

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TransPennine Express was worst UK rail operator for cancelled trains in March. More than one in six TransPennine Express trains were cancelled in March, according to data from the rail regulator, the worst performance of any rail operator in the UK.

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Grand Central came top of the table on 64 per cent, followed by Translink NI, Virgin Trains West Coast and Chiltern Railways. A spokesperson for Southern's parent firm Govia Thameslink Railway, said today: The Which?

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The first public railway in the world was the Lake Lock Rail Road, a narrow gauge railway built near Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. The early wooden railways were improved on in 1793 when Benjamin Outram constructed a mile-long tramway with L-shaped cast iron rails.

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However, the first use of steam locomotives was in Britain. The invention of wrought iron rails, together with Richard Trevithick's pioneering steam locomotive meant that Britain had the first modern railways in the world.

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According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), since 1975, there has been an average of 1.3 train accidents per year involving fatalities. Compare that with 2,584 aviation accidents and 700 bus accidents over the same time period.

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Compared to other popular forms of travel, such as cars, ships, buses, and planes, trains are one of the safest forms of transportation in the United States.

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The United States has the world's longest railway network, followed by China and India.

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The Trans-Siberian Railway, historically known as the Great Siberian Route and often shortened to Transsib, is a large railway system that connects European Russia to the Russian Far East. Spanning a length of over 9,289 kilometers (5,772 miles), it is the longest railway line in the world.

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When comparing fuel alone, driving is cheaper than peak train tickets 100% of the time and against off-peak train travel tickets 87.5% of the time. Much more than expected – an average difference of £71 per journey. Regular car users will be savvy enough to know that driving costs you far more than just fuel.

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Across the rest of the UK, trains have a maximum operational speed of 125mph, although many are capable of speeds of up to 140mph.

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The Luton Dart will replace the Heathrow Express as the most expensive rail journey in Britain. Tickets for the route amount to £3.70 per mile and a four-minute one-way trip between Luton Airport Parkway Station and the terminal will cost £4.90 with no discount for return trips.

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