5 Factors Influencing Growth

and Development of Transport

System
“Transportation is a measure of the relations between areas and is,
therefore, an essential aspect of geography” (Ullman, 1954: 311).
The economic relations between areas are reflected in the character
of transportation facilities and in the flow of traffic.

Wagner (1960: 129) has stated, “the routes along which men,
materials, and messages move bind a society together.

They make a reticule on which are strung the sites of work and rest;
they are the paths along which flow the myriad streams of raw and
half-made goods in process of production; they form the links
between each local group of human and the thoughts and presence
of its fellows”.

In the reconstruction of a region or a nation, transport systems

invariably play a vital role. The growth and development of
transportation provides a medium, contributing to the progress of
agriculture, industry, commerce, administration, defence,
education, health or any other community activity. In fact,
transportation pattern is a reflection of regional and/or national
development.

Many factors are involved in the development of a transport system.

The present-day transport system of a country or a region cannot be
explained by one factor alone, but an outcome of several
interrelated factors.
White and Senior (1983), in their book entitled, Transport
Geography considered five basic factors, which influences the
growth and development of transport system and the ways in which
changes take place.

These are:
(i) The Historical Factor:
This involves the location and patterns of systems, technological
development, institutional development and settlement, and land-
use patterns.

(ii) The Technological Factor:

The technological characteristics of each major transport mode are
considered together with a discussion of the effects of technological
advances.

(iii) The Physical Factor:

This includes physiographic controls upon route selection, and
geological and climatic influences.

(iv) The Economic Factor:

The structure and nature of transport costs are examined, together
with service quality and methods of pricing and charging.

(v) Political and Social Factors:

These include political motives for transport facilities; government
involvement in capital, monopolies competition, safety, working
conditions and coordination between modes, transport as an
employer and social consequences of transport developments.

Geographical study of transport now has become technical, which

deals with network analysis, commodity flow, transport costs,
system analysis, planning, etc. Technicalities and special aspects of
transportation, but discuss only the general pattern of world
transport.

Transport systems, which are operated at the global scale, are the
expansion of the need for links between both individual nations and
trading blocs, and have complex networks. For the purpose of
present analysis, i.e., world transportation patterns,

The transportation systems can be classified into the

following three broad categories:
1. Land transportation

2. Water transportation

3. Air transportation

5 Modes of Transportation with their

Advantages and Disadvantages
Transportation ensures time and place utility. It results in the movement of goods
from one place to another place thus making the product available through the
customer at the right time. There can be various modes of transport or
transportation.

Modes of Transportation-
The modes of transport include various types of factors or methods to transfer the
goods or product from one place to another place. The modes are:-
1. Roadways Transportation.
2. Railways Transportation.
3. Water Transportation.
4. Air Transportation.
5. Pipelines Transportation.
1. Roadways Transportation:

Modes of Transportation- Road Transport

A road is an identifiable route way or path between two or more places. This mode of
transport helps to transfer the goods from one place to another place by road
through various methods like auto, buses, trucks, cargos, and other suitable factors.

In road transport, the chances of an accident are very high and it is also very risky.

Advantages of Road Transport:

(i) It is very flexible in nature.

(ii) It helps to facilitate the movement of goods even in remote areas.

(iii) It provides alternatives in the form of car, rickshaw, auto, cars, bus, trucks, and
so on.

(iv) It is good for transporting perishable products.

(v) It requires low capital investments.

(vi) It is very suitable for a short distance journey.

Disadvantages of Road Transport:

(i) It is not suited for long distance as it is not economical.

(ii) Slow as compared to railways.

(iii) Goods can be destroyed/damage due to specks of dust and pollutions.

(iv) It is time-consuming.

(v) Accidents and Breakdowns.

2. Railways Transportation:
Modes of Transportation- Railways Transportation

It is a means of transport in which the goods are transferred from one place to
another place and as well as transfers the passenger from one place to another
destination. It is preferred due to high speed. Invariance to road transport, where
vehicles run on a flat road or surface, rail vehicles are directionally managed by the
rail tracks on which they run.

Rail transport helps to provide administrative facilities to the government. The public
servants and defense forces run their mobility from the railways.

Advantages of Railways Transportation:

(i) It is economical for long distances because it can easily cover all area of states
and cities.

(ii) This means of transport is very faster than roadways.

(iii) Most suitable for carrying a bulky amount of goods and products.

(iv) It provides proper protection from exposure to sun and dust pollutions.

(v) It is the most dependable means of transport.

(vi) It is the very safest means of transport.

(vii) Rail transport helps to provide employment opportunities to both skilled and
unskilled individuals.

Disadvantages of Railways Transportation:

(i) Huge capital required for construction maintenance.

(ii) It is not suitable for hilly areas.

(iii) It is not flexible in nature.

(iv) The cost and time of terminal operations are the major disadvantages of rail
transport.

(v) Monopoly in nature.
(vi) It consists much time for booking of goods through the comparison of road
transport.

3. Water Transportation:
Modes of Transportation- Water Transportation

It involves the movement of goods through oceans and seas. There are more than
365 ports in India with Vishakapatnam contributing to maximum portion traffic. It can
be categorized into three several categories:-

 Aqueducts, which includes tunnels and canals.

 Containers like tank car, tank ship, and tank truck.
 Towing, it is very useful to pull a large water bag or an iceberg.
In water transport, the weights of goods are very large in comparison to other means
of transports. It plays a very crucial role in the development of exports and imports of
goods in the different parts of the world.

Advantages of Water Transportation:
(i) It is the very cheapest or easiest means of transportation.

(ii) Goods in bulk are transported.

(iii) It promotes foreign or international trade.

(iv) It can easily carry a huge quantity of goods such as timber and coal.

(v) In comparison to other transport, the risks capacity is very low.

Disadvantages of Water Transportation:

(i) One of the drawbacks is there is a delay in the movement of goods from one
place to another.

(ii) Performance is affected by seasonal variations.

(iii) It can be used in a limited area of operations because it can only run on seas or
oceans.
(iv) Water transport is very unsuitable for small businesses because it carries a small
number of goods.

4. Air Transportation:
Modes of Transportation- Air Transportation

The distinct advantage of air transport is speed and suitability. It is very useful for
less working goods with a high value of the price. Air transport is also known
as aviation.
The important characteristic of air transport is that does not need a particular surface
track for its working operations. It is the fastest means of transportation. But
the cost of operations is very high according to other modes.
Advantages of Air Transportation:
(i) Fastest means of transportation.

(ii) Useful moving the goods in the amount of bulk.

(iii) Each and every area of accessible.

(iv) Vital for national security and defense.

(v) Very useful in earthquakes and other floods.

(vi) It provides an efficient, regular, and quick service.

(vii) It is very suitable for emergency services.

Disadvantages of Air Transportation:

(i) The large capital investment needed.

(ii) Not suitable for working goods.

(iii) May be affected by rains.

(iv) Risks of accidents are highest.

(v) This mode of transport requires a specialized skill and a high degree of training
for its working operations.

5. Pipelines Transportation:
Modes of Transportation- Pipelines Transportation
Pipelines transportation is used for sending the liquids and gases from one place to
another place. Through this means of transport, we can also send
chemicals, biofuels, and natural gases.
Advantages of Pipelines Transportation:
(i) They are very flexible in transporting liquids and gases.

(ii) It consumes low energy power.

(iii) It needs a limited area of maintenance.

(iv) Pipelines are very safe and accident-free transport.

Disadvantages of Pipelines Transportation:

(i) It is not flexible in nature.

(ii) It is restricted in a limited area of work.

(iii) Difficult to make security arrangements for this transport.