Read the passage and answer the questions:
Railways
Railways are a mode of land transport for bulky goods and passengers over long distances. The railway gauges vary in different countries and are roughly classified as broad (more than 1.5 m), standard (1.44 m), metre gauge (1 m), and smaller gauges. The standard gauge is used in the U.K. Commuter trains are very popular in the U.K., U.S.A., Japan, and India. These carry millions of passengers daily to and from cities. There are about 13 lakh km of railways open for traffic in the world. Europe has one of the most dense rail networks in the world. There are about 4,40,000 km of railways, most of which is double or multiple-tracked. Belgium has the highest density of 1 km of railway for every 6.5 sq km area. Industrial regions exhibit some of the highest densities in the world.
The important rail heads are London, Paris, Brussels, Milan, Berlin, and Warsaw. Passenger transport is more important than freight in many of these countries. Underground railways are important in London and Paris. Channel Tunnel, operated by Euro Tunnel Group through England, connects London with Paris. Trans-continental railway lines have now lost their importance to quicker and more flexible transport systems of airways and roadways. In Russia, railways account for about 90 percent of the country’s total transport with a very dense network west of the Urals. Moscow is the most important rail head with major lines radiating to the different parts of the country’s vast geographical area. Underground railways and commuter trains are also important in Moscow. North America has one of the most extensive rail networks, accounting for nearly 40 percent of the world’s total. In contrast to many European countries, the railways are used more for long-distance bulky freight like ores, grains, timber, and machinery than for passengers. The most dense rail network is found in the highly industrialized and urbanized region of East Central U.S.A. and adjoining Canada.
The Trans-continental railway lines have now lost their importance to which of the following transport systems?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Quicker and more flexible transport systems
Option (1) Slower and rigid transport systems — Incorrect. A slower mode would not take traffic away from railways.
Option (2) Quicker and rigid transport systems — Incorrect. Airways and roadways are quicker but also flexible, not rigid.
Option (3) Rigid and costly transport systems — Incorrect. A rigid, costly mode would not draw traffic away.
Option (4) Quicker and more flexible transport systems — Correct. A train runs only on its fixed track, between fixed stations. Aircraft cross a continent far quicker, and road transport is flexible: it offers door-to-door service on any route. So passengers and goods have moved to airways and roadways, and the trans-continental lines have lost their importance.
NCERT (2025-26): “Railways … The important rail heads are London, Paris, Brussels, Milan, Berlin and Warsaw. Passenger transport is more important than freight in many of these countries. Underground railways are important in London and Paris. Channel Tunnel, operated by Euro Tunnel Group through England, connects London with Paris. Trans-continental railway lines have now lost their importance to quicker and more flexible transport systems of airways and roadways.…” |