The basic modes of transport are by land, water and air. Land has given scope for development of road and rail transport. Water and air have developed waterways and airways, respectively. The roads or highways not only include the modern highway system but also the city streets feeder roads and village roads, catering to a wide range of road vehicles and pedestrians. Railways have been developed both for long distance transportation and for urban travel. Waterways include oceans, rivers, canals and lakes for the movement of ships and boats. Aircrafts and helicopters use the airways. Apart from these major modes of transportation, other modes include pipelines, elevators, belt conveyors, cable cars, aerial ropeways and monorails.
The four major modes of transportation are:
- Roadways or highways
- Railways
- Waterways
- Airways
Transport by air is the fastest among the four modes. Air travel also provides more comfort apart from saving in transportation time for the passengers and goods between the airports. Transportation by water is the slowest among the four modes, but it is the most economical mode of transport. Water transport needs minimum energy to haul unit load through unit distance. Transportation by water is possible between the ports on the sea routes or along the rivers or canals where inland transportation facilities are available.
Transportation through the railways could be advantageous between stations both for the passengers and goods, particularly for long distances. Railway tracks serve as arteries for transportation by land and the roads could serve as feeder systems for transportation to the interior parts and to the intermediate localities between the railway stations. The energy requirement to haul unit load through unit distance by the railway is only a fraction (one fourth to one sixth) of that required by road. Transportation by road is the only mode that could give maximum service to one and all. This mode also has the maximum flexibility for travel with reference to route, direction, time, speed of travel, etc. through any mode of road vehicle.
Leave a Reply