The graph below shows the quantities of goods transported in the UK between 1974 and 2002 by four different modes of transport. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The given chart compares how much merchandise moved in the UK from 1974 to 2002 by four different means of transport.

Overall

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, there was an increase in the figures for goods transported by road, water and pipeline; meanwhile, those for rail saw an unchanged trend.

In addition

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, the quantities of commodities circulated by road consistently had the highest ones,

while

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the measures of pipeline steadily were the lowest. Approximately 70

million

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tonnes

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of the product was carried by the roadway in 1974, after which it fluctuated in the range from around 65 to 78

million

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tonnes

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over two decades. It witnessed a sharp expansion from 1998 onwards and reached a peak at just under 100

million

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tonnes

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at the end

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of the period. A similar change, but to a greater extent, can be seen in the figure for stuff transported by the waterway, which started at about 40

million

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tonnes

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in 1974 and grew to 65

million

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tonnes

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. Despite some fluctuations, the amounts of stock moved by the pipeline rose from 10

million

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tonnes

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at the beginning of the interval examined to exactly 20

million

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tonnes

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in 2002.

Conversely

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, those for the railway were 40

million

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tonnes

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in 1974, with a considerable drop over the next 20 years before turning back to 40

million

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tonnes

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in 2002.