Rapid transit systems and intercity rail networks in Germany and Russia

¶ … Intercity Train System

History of the train System

The modern intercity train system is dominated by the latest revolutionary rapid transit which is an electric passenger railway with high capacity, frequency and a characteristic separation from the other transport systems of the city. These rapid transit systems are normally located either in underground tunnels or are elevated above the city streets, though once they snail their way out of the city they can run on the ground like any other traffic but way separated from the road.

The first transit system to be developed was the London underground that was opened in 1863; this was quickly replicated in many cities across Europe and the U.S.A. The revolution went on so fast with the largest growth of these systems experienced in Asia with the driverless systems. Currently, there are more than 160 cities with the rapid transit system and 25 cities have their systems coming.

The New York metro system is currently the biggest by length of routes and number of stations with London and Shanghai having the largest length of lines. The busiest stations are the Moscow metro and the Tokyo metro.

Abstract

There being so many metros and even more coming up, the purpose of this paper is to look at the significance that the metros play in the transport system, particularly transport of people from one station to another, and one city to another. The paper will also look into the significance of these rail systems to the countries that have them and why many cities are now craving for at least a metro system. The above will be achieved through looking at the various case studies of cities that will be selected.

Russia and the Trans-Siberian Railroad

This has been holding the fame of being the longest continuous rail line on earth stretching to about 10,000 KMs. It is the backbone for transport in the region and without it the Russian transport system would grind to a halt. It is the main transport system that connects the East and West parts of Germany, from Moscow to Vladivostok cities (InterKnowledge Corp. 2006).

The railway serves as the single most important link between Russia Far East and Moscow, all the way to Sea of Japan. It also has distributaries to China, Mongolia and Manchuria. With these connections comes the transport of imports from China and Japan mainly as well as export to Mongolia, Manchuria and even Japan. The Russian economy and even political connections would crumble without the Trans-Siberian Railroad.

London and the "tube"

The tube is the underground rail system that is predominant in London. It is made to serve the Greater London and some parts of Essex, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire in England. It is considered the oldest underground railway on earth with the first section having been opened in 1863.

The tube does not only serve as a transport landmark but as a historical memoir as well. It was one of the places that provided shelter to the largest number of children and victims of the WWII. The network across the two major regions is heavily coordinated by the tube with goods and persons forming the majority of the users and also a significant part going to the tourist sector.

Without the tube, the London transport system would grind to a halt and in particular the long distance travelling systems out of the cities or from one city to another.

Japan and its electric railroad system

Japan has a rail system that acts as a major passenger transport especially mass transportation and high speed traveling between major cities of the country as well as the metropolitan regions. There are approximately 27,300 KMs of the electric rail crisscrossing the country. Though the length of the railway may sound short in comparison to other countries like Germany which hosts to the tune of 40,000 KMs of railroad, the Japanese railroad amazingly carries more than 22.24 billion of people per year as compared to Germany's 2.2 billion people per year. This then technically means that the Japanese human transport cannot go on smoothly without their electric railroad system. It is the single most relied upon means of transport in the country particularly when it comes to the transport and movement of people from homes to places of work and from one city to another.

Conclusion

Though the road still serves as a major means of transport in most parts of the world, there is a shifting attention that is going toward the use of high speed railway system. The countries that still have the traditional diesel propelled trains are fast moving into the electric and high-speed trains so as to increase the efficiency.

The cities and countries that have already embraced the technology are reaping the fruits of cheap transport and also efficiency in terms of time and speed, using the road just as supplement to the shorter distances that the train cannot get into. If any of the above mentioned cities can lose their rail system, it can grind the transport system in that country to a total halt.

Reference

Eurail, (2011). Train Travel in Germany with Eurail. Retrieved March, 4, 2011 from http://www.eurail.com/countries/germany?gclid=CNnY0dipg6gCFQMjfAodfXcTrw

InterKnowledge Corp. (2006). Russia's. Trans-Siberian Railway. Retrieved March, 4, 2011 from http://www.geographia.com/russia/trasib01.htm