Five new main railway lines could be built across Britain to tackle growing passenger numbers on the train network.

Plans for Britain's biggest railway building work for more than 100 years could see high-speed lines, similar to the link between London St Pancras to the Channel Tunnel, being used nationwide for domestic services for the first time.

It is hoped the new lines would-free up space on existing services and help cope with a projected 30 per cent rise in passenger numbers over the next decade. There has already been a 40 per cent increase in people using the rail network in the last 10 years.

The lines would run alongside the existing rail network, in a similar way to the French TGV network.

The suggestions are among those being considered in a strategic review by Network Rail, which owns and operates the rail network.

The study, which will be announced on Monday, will look at whether high-speed lines are a feasible alternative to the current operating system and will generally examine ways to improve services over the next 20 years.

It will target the country's five busiest lines in and out of London, estimated to be at full capacity by 2025, which are the West Coast line to Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow; the East Coast line to Edinburgh; the Great Western to Bristol; the Midland main line to Sheffield; and the Chiltern route to Birmingham.

Any proposals considered in the review would not come into effect until after 2014. A Network Rail spokesman said: “We are looking at these five strategic routes. We are possibly looking at new lines. There is a huge case to be made for an expansion of the rail network. All options are on the table looking at how we address capacity issues.”

Richard Dyer, transport campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said a modernised rail system was long overdue and could mean fewer cars, lorries and internal flights.

He labelled the proposals for new high-speed lines as "very exciting", but said the effect on the countryside must be taken in to account.

“Expanding Britain’s railways by building new high speed lines is potentially very exciting - and could play an important role in weaning Britain off fossil fuels and developing a low carbon economy," Mr Dyer said of the Network Rail study

“But the overall impact that this would have on local people and the environment must be carefully considered. The UK needs a modern, comprehensive and affordable rail network to provide a real alternative to cars, lorries and short haul flights, and help cut Britain’s contribution to global climate change.

“Our creaking railway system desperately requires huge investment to bring it into the 21st century.”

The review was also welcomed by rail users watchdog Passenger Focus. Director Ashwin Kumar said: "It is extremely important the rail industry anticipates future growth."

The country's first high-speed link opened in 2003 between London Waterloo and the Channel Tunnel, and was completed last year when services began operating out of London St Pancras in November.

The line has cut journey times from the capital to Paris by 40 minutes, and domestic high-speed services from Ashford and Ebbsfleet in Kent are expected to begin in 2010.

Britain's last main railway line to be built before this was the Great Central Main Line which linked Sheffield with Marylebone station, which opened in 1899.

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