Land Transport
INTRODUCTION
✦ From Pack Animals to Rail Engines
The real revolution in land transport began with the invention of the steam engine.
- The first public railway was inaugurated in 1825, between Stockton and Darlington in northern England.
- Railways opened the interiors of vast continents like North America to:
- Commercial grain farming
- Mining
- Manufacturing
✦ Modern Innovations
Besides trains, we now have:
- Pipelines (for oil, gas, water)
- Ropeways and cableways (for rugged terrains like mountains)
🔹 Key takeaway: Land transport has diversified and modernized, yet some traditional forms still exist.
The Paradox of Pack Animals
Yes, in the age of rockets, we still use animals in many terrains due to their adaptability.
| Animal | Region Used |
|---|---|
| Horses | Western countries (draught animal) |
| Dogs & Reindeer | North America, North Europe, Siberia (snow sleds) |
| Mules | Mountain regions |
| Camels | Desert caravans |
| Bullocks | Some Indian villages (bullock carts) |
🔹 UPSC tip: Pack animals are not obsolete, just region-specific.
Road Transport: Backbone of Local Movement
✦ Efficiency Over Short Distances
- Road transport is the most economical for short distances.
- It offers door-to-door service, hence widely preferred in cities and rural areas alike.
✦ Global Road Network Snapshot
- World’s motorable road length: ~15 million km
- North America:
- Contributes 33% to global road length.
- Has the highest road density and vehicle count.
✦ India’s Road Network
- Total road length: ~66.71 lakh km
- Ranks 2nd largest in the world.
- Includes rural roads, highways, expressways, etc.
Highways: Connecting the Nation and Beyond
Highways = Arteries of development. They link major economic hubs and promote regional integration.
✦ Notable Highways Around the World:
| Highway | Region | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Trans-Canadian Highway map | Canada | Connects Vancouver (West) to St. John’s (East). |
| Alaskan Highway map | Canada to Alaska | Links Edmonton to Anchorage. |
| Pan-American Highway map | Americas | Proposed highway connecting North to South America. |
| Stuart Highway map | Australia | Connects Darwin (North) to Melbourne via Tennant Creek & Alice Springs. |
| Moscow–Vladivostok Highway map | Russia | Major east-west link across vast Siberian plains. |
🔹 Russia prefers railways over highways due to vast distances and harsh climates.
✦ India’s Highway Network
- NH-44: Longest highway in India → Connects Srinagar to Kanyakumari.
- Golden Quadrilateral (GQ):
- Also known as Super Expressway.
- Connects six major cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad.
- A part of National Highway Development Project (NHDP).
🔸 GQ = India’s economic spine.
Railways – The Steel Arteries of a Nation
Why Railways Matter in Geography
In economic and human geography, railways are not just a mode of transport, they are a marker of development, industrialisation, and connectivity. Especially in large continental landmasses, they are the lifelines that connect interiors with coasts, producers with consumers, and cities with villages.
Classification of Rail Gauges: One Size Doesn’t Fit All
Just as we wear different-sized shoes, railways also come in different ‘gauges’ — the distance between the two rails. This is often determined by topography, construction cost, traffic load, and national standards.
| Type | Gauge Width |
|---|---|
| Broad Gauge | > 1.5 m (e.g. India: 1.676 m) |
| Standard Gauge | ~1.44 m (Most common globally) |
| Metre Gauge | 1.0 m |
| Narrow Gauges | < 1.0 m |
🔹 Broad gauges are better for speed and load.
🔹 Narrow gauges are cheaper but slower, often used in hilly or low-traffic regions.
Regional Overview of Railways: A Global Perspective
Let’s now go continent-wise to understand how railway networks vary in density, purpose, and usage.
🌍 Europe: Dense, Urban, and Passenger-Oriented
- Europe has one of the densest railway networks in the world, especially in industrial belts.
- Focus is more on passenger transport than freight.
- Famous examples:
- London & Paris have significant underground (metro) systems.
- The Channel Tunnel (Chunnel) connects London with Paris, operated by Euro Tunnel Group — a marvel of engineering.
🌎 North America: Freight King
- One of the largest networks globally.
- Dominated by freight traffic — ores, timber, grain, and machinery.
- Passenger trains are limited due to air and road dominance.
- Highly commercial, linking inland resource zones with seaports.
🌏 Asia: Population Drives Rail Density
- Densest networks are found in:
- Japan (bullet trains, metros),
- China (freight and passengers),
- India (largest in South Asia).
- India ranks 4th globally in terms of railway system size:
- Route length: ~67,956 km
- Running track length: ~99,235 km (2020 data)
🌐 Russia: Railways are Everything
- Accounts for 90% of Russia’s transport — due to vast land and extreme climate.
- Moscow has a well-developed metro and suburban train system.
- Roads and airways are less feasible in Siberia — hence, railways dominate.
🌏 Australia & New Zealand: Sparse but Strategic
- In Australia, the National Railway Line connects Perth (West) to Sydney (East).
- Another major line connects Adelaide to Darwin (North-South) via Alice Springs.
- New Zealand: Railways serve mostly North Island for agricultural transport.
🌎 South America: Uneven but Functional
- Rail density is highest in:
- The Pampas region of Argentina (agriculture),
- Brazil’s coffee-growing areas.
- In many countries, rail use has declined due to poor maintenance and rise of road transport.
Trans-Continental Railways: Iron Highways Across Continents
These are rail lines that cross an entire continent, linking one end to the other — crucial for economic integration and political control during their inception.
1. Trans-Siberian Railway (Russia)
- Longest continuous railway line: 9,332 km, double-tracked and electrified.
- Runs from St. Petersburg (West) to Vladivostok (East).
- Crosses Ural Mountains, Ob and Yenisei Rivers.
- Major stops:
- Irkutsk – fur center
- Chita – agro-industrial zone
- Connects to:
- Odessa (Ukraine), Baku (Caspian), Tashkent, Ulan Bator, Beijing
- Role: Linked Siberia with Western Russia and Europe with East Asia.
2. Trans-Canadian Railway
- Length: 7,050 km
- Route: Halifax (Atlantic) → Vancouver (Pacific)
- Major cities: Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary
- Connects:
- Quebec-Montreal Industrial Belt
- Wheat-producing Prairies
- Coniferous forests of the North
- Loop line: Winnipeg to Thunder Bay (Lake Superior) connects to waterways.
- Carries: Wheat, meat, timber
3. Union and Pacific Railway (USA)
- Links: New York (East) → San Francisco (West)
- Passes through: Cleveland, Chicago, Omaha, Ogden, Sacramento
- Carries: Ores, grain, chemicals, paper, machinery
- One of the most profitable and efficient freight corridors globally.
4. Australian Trans-Continental Railway
- Connects: Perth (West) → Sydney (East)
- Cities on route: Kalgoorlie, Broken Hill, Port Augusta
- North–South line connects:
- Adelaide to Darwin (Birdum Line) via Alice Springs
5. Orient Express (Europe)
- Classic, iconic route: Paris → Istanbul
- Passes through: Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade
- Historically important for trade and tourism
- Exports: Cheese, bacon, wine, oats, fruits, machinery
✅ Summary Chart for Revision
| Railway | Region | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| Trans-Siberian | Russia | Longest; links Europe-Asia |
| Trans-Canadian | Canada | Wheat + forest region connector |
| Union & Pacific | USA | Major freight line |
| Australian Trans-Continental | Australia | Connects West-East & North-South |
| Orient Express | Europe | Paris to Istanbul, historical |
| India | South Asia | 4th largest, dense network |