Rail lines in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Rail lines was 16,179 total route-km in 2021. ▼ Falling
Rail lines in United Kingdom, 1995–2021
Source: Railisa Database, International Union of Railways (UIC). Measured in total route-km.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rail lines in United Kingdom is 16,179 total route-km, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and down 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rail lines in United Kingdom peaked at 17,010 total route-km in 2002 and was at its lowest, 15,846 total route-km, in 2012.
United Kingdom ranks 13th of 104 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Rail lines in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | total route-km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 17,001 total route-km | — |
| 1996 | 17,001 total route-km | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 16,991 total route-km | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 16,999 total route-km | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 16,989 total route-km | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 16,992 total route-km | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 16,992 total route-km | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 17,010 total route-km | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 16,833 total route-km | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 16,530 total route-km | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 16,263 total route-km | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 16,273 total route-km | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 16,239 total route-km | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 15,888 total route-km | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 16,210 total route-km | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 15,846 total route-km | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 15,861 total route-km | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 16,532 total route-km | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 16,245 total route-km | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 16,257 total route-km | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 16,294 total route-km | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 16,295 total route-km | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 16,295 total route-km | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 16,351 total route-km | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 16,179 total route-km | -1.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 16,179 total route-km is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,756 total route-km, 4.3× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 16,179 total route-km is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3,619 total route-km, 4.5× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16,996 total route-km | 16,989 total route-km | 17,001 total route-km | 5 |
| 2000s | 16,642 total route-km | 16,239 total route-km | 17,010 total route-km | 8 |
| 2010s | 16,172 total route-km | 15,846 total route-km | 16,532 total route-km | 10 |
| 2020s | 16,265 total route-km | 16,179 total route-km | 16,351 total route-km | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More infrastructure data for United Kingdom
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 84.10 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 121.64 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 23.77 million (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 34.38 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.3431 units per person (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate -11.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 23.77 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 1.21 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rail lines in United Kingdom?
- Rail lines in United Kingdom was 16,179 total route-km in 2021, according to Railisa Database, International Union of Railways (UIC).
- What is the highest rail lines recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 17,010 total route-km in 2002.
- What is the lowest rail lines recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 15,846 total route-km in 2012.
- How does United Kingdom rank for rail lines?
- United Kingdom ranks 13th out of 104 countries with data for 2021.
- Is rail lines rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Railisa Database, International Union of Railways (UIC), published as part of Rail lines (total route-km). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
The total length of rail line in the country operated for passenger transport, goods transport, or both.