Transport in the UK
Geography: AQA GCSE, topic 5.2.5
Improvements in the UK's Transport Infrastructure
The UK has continued to improve its transport network, but mainly the transport network close to London.
Roads
- The UK created 400 miles of 'smart motorways', which remove the hard shoulder (for emergencies) and add a new lane.
- This increases the capacity of the UK's roads, but many people have been killed when they break down on a smart motorway with no hard shoulder.
Railways and public transport
- London's tube system has 11 lines.
- Crossrail has just delivered the Elizabeth line. Despite being named under the same system and having underground sections, the Elizabeth line is not classified as a London Underground line.
Airports
- The UK government has debated building a new runway at Heathrow, at Gatwick, or building a new airport on the Thames Estuary. None have happened yet.
London
- London is the best-connected city in the UK.
- It has 4 airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, City, and Stansted) and Heathrow is the 7th busiest airport in the world transporting 75 million passengers each year.
- Trains from Kings Cross-St Pancras travel through the Channel Tunnel to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam.
- London is well-connected to the rest of the UK and you can travel to Manchester on Avanti trains in 2 hours.
- London has not been a port since 1981.
Test yourself on Transport in the UK
Which of the following describe the UK's transport network?
How many lines will the London Underground have after Crossrail is finished?
In what year did London's port close?