How rail services could be given distinct route numbers.

For infrequent travellers, the railway network can be confusing, with little separation between slow and fast services. I think services should be divided into distinct routes, like what is currently happening in the Netherlands. This could mean there would be cuts to some direct services. I know I don't speak for all passengers, but I wouldn't mind changing trains more often, if those trains were more predictable, reliable and frequent.

I would suggest the following categories:

• Local (Lxxx): Branch line, shuttle or inner-city services. E.g. St Ives - St Erth, Bristol Temple Meads - Severn Beach, Nuneaton - Leamington Spa
• Regional (Rxxx): Stopping, semi-express and commuter services between cities or across larger metropolitan areas. E.g. Litchfield Trent Valley - Bromsgrove, London Paddington - Didcot Parkway.
• Express (Xxxx): Somewhere in-between Regional and Intercity. Services which would currently have 1xxx head codes, but aren't true intercity services. E.g. Cambridge - Brighton, most LNWR & Chiltern services, Liverpool - Cleethorpes
• Intercity (ICxx): Long distance services. E.g. London - Edinburgh, London - Swansea, London - Glasgow, Bristol - Manchester

Why can't this be done, especially after nationalisation?