John Armitt, the head of Britain’s rail infrastructure system has suggested that buses and taxis could end up replacing some railway services .
Mr Armitt, has claimed that transport planners should not always choose a conventional train service in order to move passengers.
"Simply asking to provide a railway, which in transport terms is not value for money, is probably not the best way forward. We have parts of the network where we have trains running around empty for most of the day," he said.
"You have to ask yourself is that a sensible use of resources? Should not local buses or even taxis be used instead?"
A spokesman for Network Rail said, "What John was saying is that too many think that having rail is always the answer, but that risks stifling innovation. There are other kinds of rail solutions, which can sometimes be more efficient."
He said that trials of the new 'light rail' systems, which are single carriages similar to trams containing a driver and passengers, had shown that they could be operated anywhere in the UK, and that they were an option for lesser-used lines.
Most rail services use the conventional 50 tonne units, however the new light rail units are just five tonnes in weight meaning that they are more environmentally friendly and emit fewer greenhouse gases.
Cars have generally become greener because of tough new rules, where as trains can only rival their counterparts for greenness by squeezing in the passengers.
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