According to Price Waterhouse Cooper's ‘Voice of the Consumer' survey in 2013, cars play a leading role in the daily commute, with car usage in some regions reaching 70%.

Despite this, the demand on Britain's major rail networks is forecast to increase significantly, and a transformation of the network is deemed a priority.

Overall volumes are expected to reach around 120% of current levels by 2030, after growing at a rate of 3.3% year-on-year.

Professor Andrew McNaughton, technical director of the HS2 project, will be speaking at this year's IET Sir Henry Royce Memorial Lecture about transforming Britain's railway into the transport of choice.

He says: “I want my IET lecture to inspire Britain’s engineers to help develop a control system that integrates all of the necessary elements and provides the engineering backbone of a future railway system that delivers the best-possible passenger and freight experience.

“With Britain's engineering heritage, there is no reason why the UK should not once again have the best rail network in the world.”

Mr McNaughton says that many people still “think of railways as a fascinating Victorian invention”, but with the Central Japan Railway Co introducing the N700 advanced high-speed train last year (pictured) and with Germany’s ‘tram-trains’, it is time for Britain to transform its railway system.

The 2014 Sir Henry Royce Memorial Lecture will be given on 25 September at the Royal Institution in London, UK.

For further information, please visit www.theiet.org/henry-royce.