Railway: Bridging the Gap between People
“Let the train take the strain” – the catchphrase of British railway advertising in the 1930s sums up the many advantages of using the railway system to get around. From safety and cost effectiveness to convenience, rail travel has come a long way over the past two centuries.
By the 1830s, steam driven railway lines had become the most efficient and popular form of travel in the United Kingdom. The opening of the Liverpool-Manchester railway line in 1830 triggered a rapid expansion in the construction of railway lines across the country. With their faster speed and direct routes, railway lines quickly changed the way people moved around the country and an interconnected network of rail tracks had been established by the late-1800s.
The 1900s marked the start of a golden age of rail travel in the United Kingdom. From 1955 to 1975 the number of passenger journeys made annually nearly doubled. Railways had become the lifeblood of Britain’s workforce. During these years, railway companies focused on providing comfortable and enjoyable journeys, investing in improved rolling stock and better services.
However, with the emergence of the motor car in the post-war period, rail could no longer compete when it came to efficiency, convenience and cost. On top of this, the industry was plagued by chronic underinvestment and mismanagement. This led to a considerable decline in rail usage in the late twentieth century with passenger numbers dropping by a third between 1950 and 1975.
In the mid-1990s, the British government sought to rebuild the country’s ailing railway system. A large-scale programme of infrastructure improvement programmes was rolled out and later privatised in the early 2000s, bringing greater competition and more choice for passengers. Investment in rail services increased and the industry began to see steady growth.
As of 2017, passenger numbers had more than doubled since 1975 and the system is continuing to grow with new lines being added and new types of rolling stock being introduced. Rail is now seen as an attractive, sustainable form of travel that is cost-effective and often faster than travelling by car or bus.
Railways not only represent a symbol of progress, but they also play an important role in society. As well as allowing people to travelling farther and with greater ease than ever before, they provide a connection with communities and structural support to areas that may otherwise not be accessible.
Railways span generations, connecting and binding people together in a unique way. In an increasingly fragmented, digital world, railways provide an essential service and a rare physical link between different cities and nations. In an era of social media, railways are a tangible reminder of how people can interact in the real world. As cliché as it sounds, railways really do bridge the gaps between people.
