Rail Transport

Overview

Rail transport is a type of land transport where goods and passengers are carried by wheeled vehicles on rail tracks. Unlike road transport, which involves movement on a prepared surface, rail transport is guided by the paths it follows.

Components

The rolling stock of rail transport typically consists of metal wheels and is usually equipped with less friction resistance compared to cars. Passenger and freight cars can be coupled into longer trains. The driving force in trains is locomotives that use electricity or produce their own power, usually through diesel engines.

Infrastructure

Railway tracks usually consist of steel rails mounted on sleepers and ballast, along which rolling stock moves. However, another arrangement of paths is possible, such as a ballastless path, where the paths are attached to a cement base. The infrastructure includes:

* **Track**: Steel rails mounted on sleepers and ballast
* **Artificial structures**: Bridges, tunnels, stations, and other supporting structures
* **Alarm devices** and **centralization and lock devices (SCA)**: Used for safety and control purposes
* **Contact network**: Power devices, power stations, and other electrical infrastructure

Operations

Rail transport is a safe mode of transport compared to its other modes. It is able to cope with large volumes of passenger and freight traffic. The operatic aspects of rail transport can be divided into:

* **Technical exploitation**: Control Manager, responsible for managing the transfer process
* **Commercial exploitation**: Relations with cargo loaders, passengers, and other stakeholders

History

The history of rail transport is a significant aspect of its development. For more information on the history of train transport in specific regions, see the relevant articles.

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