A new 'Long Distance Market Study' has been put together to help the government and railway industry assess how many people will be using trains in 30 years' time.

According to Network Rail, the document will look at particular parts of the UK that might need better rail links in the future.

The company stated that if the economy grows by a reasonable amount between now and 2043, the demand for travel between Leicester and Manchester - which are not currently directly linked - could grow by 203 per cent. This is just one example of what the market study is designed for.

Network Rail's head of strategic planning Richard Eccles said the research will focus on three key areas - how the rail industry can enable economic growth, improving people's quality of life and reducing the impact of travel on the environment.

"Only by planning many years ahead will we be able to keep trains moving and meet demand," he remarked.

The future certainly looks bright for Britain's railways, as Network Rail has pledged to spend £37 billion on infrastructural improvements by 2019 and the government has also outlined plans for the ambitious High Speed 2 rail link.