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 most dense rail network is found in East Central U.S.A. and adjoining Canada because:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → It is highly industrialised and urbanised region
Option (1) It is a far away region — Incorrect. Distance does not make lines crowd together; traffic does.
Option (2) It is relatively less urbanised region — Incorrect. Fewer towns mean fewer passengers, so fewer lines.
Option (3) It is a less industrialised region — Incorrect. Less industry means less bulky freight, so fewer lines.
Option (4) It is highly industrialised and urbanised region — Correct. Railways carry bulky goods and passengers over long distances. Industries need ores, timber and machinery brought in and their goods sent out, and North American railways carry mostly such freight; big cities add a large flow of passengers. Where factories and towns crowd together, the traffic pays for more lines, so the network is densest in the highly industrialised and urbanised region of East Central U.S.A. and adjoining Canada.
NCERT (2025-26): “Railways … 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 industrialised and urbanised region of East Central U.S.A. and adjoining Canada. In Canada, railways are in the public sector and distributed all over the sparsely populated areas. The transcontinental railways carry the bulk of wheat and coal tonnage.…” |