Transportation of goods from one place to another is essential in any country because no state or city has sufficient resources available for carrying out their day to day activities.
There are 3 basic mediums of transport namely Air Transport, Road Transport and Railway Transport. The most preferred one is railway transport. Railway transport means carrying of goods from one place to the other by means of using trains.
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There are certain advantages and disadvantages of railway transport.
The Advantages of Railway Transport are as Follows:
1. Safety:
Transportation by the means of railway ensures safety for the desired goods because unlike the road transports a train only stops at a desired station instead of the will of the driver. In case of road transports for example, the drivers can at any point of time decide to rest or stop for tea, refreshments, lunch or dinner.
2. Cheap:
Railway transport any day is cheaper as compared to air transport. As a matter of fact, railway transport is even cheaper than road transport because of the reason that goods in bulk quantities are carried from a desired destination to the other. In cases of road transport for instance, less goods as compared to road transport can be carried.
3. Increases Employment:
Railway transport helps people to carry cheap products from a place to another and sell them at high prices. As a result of this, a number of people who are unemployed find a source of their daily bread.
4. Bulk Quantity:
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Because railway transportation is cheaper as compared to air and road transport, goods can be carried in bulk quantities as a result of which a lot of time is saved.
It is true that as compared to air transport and road transport, rail transport is easier and cheaper but still it has a few disadvantages.
The Disadvantages of Rail Transport are as Follows:
1. Loss of Goods:
Because goods in bulk quantities are carried chances of goods getting lost are high in case of railway transport as compared to air and road transport.
2. Unsafe for Fragile Items:
Railway transportation is particularly unsafe for carrying fragile items like glass because these items can easily break at times when a train halts unexpectedly of when the train is speeding up at times.
3. Late Bookings:
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Because railway is the cheapest medium of transport, it is hard to find suitable bookings for the transportation of your goods. Railway transport is not suitable in cases of emergency.
4. Unsuitable for Short Distances:
Railway transport is unsuitable for carrying goods at shorter distances; road transport is most suitable in this case.
5. Unsuitable for Rural Areas:
Proper railway system is not build up in the Indian villages as a result of which railway transport is unsuitable in the villages of India. Whatever be the disadvantages of railway transport it was, it is and it will always be the safest and the best means for the transportation of goods.