RAIL bosses will today launch a study looking at the possibility of building five new high-speed lines in Britain to cope with increasing passenger demand.

Network Rail will explore the feasibility of new lines along some of the UK's busiest routes in what would amount to the largest track build since the 19th century.

More than one million people travelled by train last year, the highest number since the Second World War demob year of 1946, and growth is predicted to swell by 30% in the next decade.

NR revealed yesterday that consultants will be appointed by the end of July and the first report into the possibility of building new lines is expected by next summer.

The consultants will look at five of the busiest routes in the country - the West Coast Main Line, The East Coast Main Line, Midland Mainline, Great Western and the Chiltern route.

It is likely that most, if not all, of any new lines will be high speed in what would amount to the largest track building programme since the 19th century.

NR believes the five lines will be full to capacity by the year 2025 even after planned improvements are made in the coming years.

"We have to start thinking now about how we can increase capacity and look at the case for building new lines," said a company spokesman today.

The study will also look at the benefits to the UK economy of increased rail travel, especially in the light of rising oil prices.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union yesterday welcomed the move and said environmental pressures dictated that new high-speed railway lines, as well as electrification of existing lines but be made sooner rather than later.

Bob Crow, the union's general secretary, said: "The future lies in high-speed rail and electrification of the existing network, because the environment and the economy are crying out for a decisive shift away from never-ending expansion of road and air travel and because the oil crisis is not going to go away."

Meanwhile a group of MPs today launched a campaign to remedy the "systematic weaknesses" of Network Rail that have "repeatedly and unnecessarily" caused chaos to travellers.

The 29 members of the Co-operative Party, who work in alliance with the Labour Party, said their People's Rail campaign would give the public control over the way the network was run.

They said the current governance structure of Network Rail was failing both the passengers and the rail industry.

A Co-operative Party spokesman said: "In effect, the Board appoints Network Rail's members. While an independent panel selects the members, this is effectively appointed and remunerated by the Board as well. This puts Network Rail's Board in the unparalleled position of being able to choose those to whom it is accountable."

He added: ""We believe that long suffering passengers deserve better."