A recent report has named Britain's rail network as one of the best in Europe.

The public survey from the European Commission ranked Britain in second place, with an overall satisfaction rating of 78 per cent, losing only to Finland, with 80 per cent.

This means it managed to beat its main rivals France and Belgium, with 74 per cent each, the Netherlands (67 per cent) and Germany (51 per cent).

However,.when it came to just countries with major networks, the UK's results were more favourable, as 73 per cent of people gave it positive feedback for punctuality and reliability.

Similarly, positive feedback was given for the information available during journeys (70 per cent) and accessibility for passengers with limited mobility (65 per cent).

Talking to the Daily Telegraph, European Commissioner for transport Siim Kallas said: "The report shows the vital role of reliability, accessibility and customer satisfaction in driving passenger growth in the UK and elsewhere in the EU."