The table below gives information on distributing goods on different means of transportation in United Kingdom between 1974 to 2002. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The line graph illustrates four different modes of transportation that are transporting the number of goods from 1974 to 2002 in United Kingdom . It is measured in million tonnes.

Overall, it can be seen that there was a significant increase in the number of goods transported by road, water and rail transportation, while there was a fluctuation in the number of goods transported by pipeline over the period.

The quantities of goods transported by pipeline in 1974 stood at just below 10 million tonnes, and this figure increased steadily over the following 20 years to approximately 25 million tonnes in 1998, then this figure remained stable at the end of period at approximately 25 million tonnes, the lowest level compared to others three transportation means. However, the total of goods transported by rail stood at 40 million tonnes in 1974 then 1978 witnessed a fluctuation over the period and this figure had the same level at 40 million tonnes which it started.

In contrast, the number of goods transported by water in 1974 started at 40 million tonnes which this figure rose dramatically to just below 60 million tonnes in 1982, next leveling of off to just under 60 million tonnes from 1982 to 1998, then this figure grew suddenly to approximately 65 million tonnes in 2002. However, the quantities of goods transported by road stood at approximately 70 million tonnes in 1974, then this figure increased dramatically over the following 28 years between 1974 and 2002 at almost 100 million tonnes. Moreover, this figure had the most highest proportion than others three modes of transportation.