| 
 |
|
Route totals should be quoted with some care, because statistical practice changed over the years. From 1923, for example, the main figures no longer included Ireland.
There are four principal groups which have contributed to route statistics at various times. These are the British main line companies, London Underground, Irish railways and the minor lines in Britain which remained independent until 1948, such as the Cheshire Lines Committee and most narrow-gauge lines.
To make useful comparisons with the modern National Rail network, it is necessary to disregard Irish railways and London Underground. Except for the few sections which have been preserved, the rest of the former 'minor lines' have since either closed or been absorbed into the National Rail network of today.
The lines which now form much of London Underground were often included in statistics published before 1933, inflating the totals (at most) by some 250km. These and other factors are indicated in the notes. We have traced additional totals for some of the earlier years (such as Great Britain excluding Ireland), and these are also shown in the notes.
The main intention is to allow comparisons (as far as possible) to be made with the modern National Rail network, so the route length of present-day heritage railways is disregarded.
Route length data in modern times records the track managed by Network Rail. The total route length has shrunk since 2001 partly because of closures but also where some lines have been transferred to private freight operators, light rail operators or Transport for London.
| | | 
Friday
17
| |
