Land transport

Land transport moves people and things on the ground.

We can use our own muscles to walk or ride bikes.

Some people use animals to pull heavy sleds or carts.

Cars and buses travel on paved roads.

Trains run on metal rails. This helps them move with less rubbing. Trains can carry many people at once. It is a busy way to travel.

Land transport is the way we move people and goods on the ground.

There are three main ways to power these trips.

First, humans use muscle power. People can walk, run, or use tools like bicycles.

Second, people use animals. Animals can pull sleds or carry heavy loads.

Third, we use machines. Most machines use an engine to make movement.

Road transport is very common. Cars and buses travel on roads.

Road travel is flexible. You can change direction or speed whenever you need. This lets you travel from your door to any other door.

Rail transport is another big way to travel. Trains run on two steel rails.

These rails are held in place by ties. These ties can be made of wood, steel, or concrete. Trains move with less friction than cars. This means they use power very well.

Some trains carry many people. Other trains carry large amounts of goods.

Pipelines are also used to move liquids and gases through long tubes.

Land transport is the purposeful movement of people, animals, or goods from one place to another. This movement happens along land-based routes. It is different from maritime transport, which moves over water. It is also different from aviation, which moves through the air.

We use many systems to make this work. Some systems are very basic, like a person carrying a heavy load. Other systems are huge networks of vehicles and infrastructure.

There are three main ways to power land transport. The first way is human-powered transport. This uses human muscle power for things like walking, running, or swimming.

People also use bicycles or inline skates to help. The second way is animal-powered transport. Humans can ride animals directly or use them as pack animals. They can also harness animals to pull sleds or wheeled vehicles. The third way is machine-powered transport. These vehicles use engines or motors to create movement.

Road transport is a very common way to travel. A road is a path between two or more places. Many roads are paved or smoothed to make travel easy.

The most common vehicle on a road is the automobile. As of 2002, there were 590 million automobiles in the world. Other road users include buses, trucks, and motorcycles. Road transport is very flexible for the user. You can change your direction, speed, or timing whenever you need. It is the only way to provide door-to-door service.

Rail transport is another major system for moving things. A train runs on two parallel steel rails. These rails are called a railway or railroad. The rails are held in place by ties made of timber, concrete, or steel.

These ties keep the rails at a consistent distance called a gauge. A locomotive often pulls a series of unpowered cars. These cars can carry passengers or freight.

Trains move with much less friction than rubber tires on a road. This makes them more energy efficient than cars. Some modern high-speed rail can reach very high speeds. This requires specially built tracks.

Other ways to move things include pipelines and cables. Pipelines send liquids and gases through long tubes.

Cable transport uses cables to pull vehicles. This is often used on steep slopes, like ski lifts or elevators. All these systems need infrastructure to work. Infrastructure includes the way, the terminal, and maintenance facilities.

A terminal is a place like a station. It is where people or goods transfer from one vehicle to another. This helps connect different ways of traveling together.

Land transport is the purposeful movement of people, animals, or goods from one location to another via land-based routes. This differs from maritime transport, which occurs over waterbodies, and aviation, which moves through the atmosphere.

Land transport systems range from simple human movement to massive, sophisticated networks. These networks rely on both vehicles and infrastructure to function. Infrastructure includes the fixed installations required for operation. This consists of the way, the terminal, and various maintenance facilities.

There are three primary methods used to power land transport. Human-powered transport uses muscle power through walking, running, or swimming. It is a sustainable option often used for leisure or exercise. It remains common in developing or inaccessible regions where other options are unavailable.

Modern technology can enhance this power through tools like bicycles or inline skates. Animal-powered transport involves using working animals to move people or goods. Humans might ride animals directly or use them as pack animals. They can also harness animals, alone or in teams, to pull sleds or wheeled vehicles.

The third type is machine-powered transport. These vehicles use an internal power source like a steam engine, combustion engine, or electric motor. They convert energy into movement through wheels, propellers, or pressure.

Road transport is a major system utilizing identifiable routes between places. While many roads are paved or smoothed for easy travel, they do not always have to be. In urban areas, roads often serve as streets that function as city spaces.

The automobile is the most common road vehicle. As of 2002, there were 590 million automobiles worldwide.

Road transport offers unique flexibility compared to other modes. Users can change lanes, directions, speeds, and timings at their convenience. This flexibility allows for door-to-door service. However, automobiles have low capacity and contribute significantly to noise and air pollution. Buses offer more efficient travel, though they provide less individual flexibility.

Rail transport involves vehicles running along two parallel steel rails. These rails are known as a railway or railroad. To keep the rails at a consistent distance, called a gauge, they are anchored to ties. These ties can be made of timber, concrete, or steel. The entire structure sits on a foundation of concrete or compressed earth and gravel, known as a bed of ballast.

Propulsion is usually provided by a locomotive. This engine hauls a series of unpowered cars for passengers or freight.

Locomotives can be powered by steam, diesel, or electricity from trackside systems. Some trains use multiple units where all cars are powered. Rail vehicles experience much less friction than rubber tires on roads. This makes them more energy efficient, though they are less efficient than ships.

Rail systems serve different purposes based on their scale. Intercity trains are long-haul services that connect different cities. Modern high-speed rail can reach very high speeds but requires specially built tracks. Regional and commuter trains connect suburbs to cities. Within a city, high-capacity tramways and rapid transits often form the backbone of public transport. For freight, container trains have become the dominant solution since the 1960s. This replaced older methods where box cars required manual loading and unloading.

Other specialized modes of land transport exist for specific needs. Pipeline transport moves goods through pipes, most commonly liquids and gases. This can include long-distance networks for petroleum and natural gas.

Short-distance pipelines may carry sewage, water, or even beer. Cable transport uses cables to pull vehicles instead of internal power. This is most effective on steep slopes. Examples include aerial tramways, elevators, escalators, and ski lifts.

Finally, some systems use pneumatic tubes to send solid capsules through pipes using compressed air.

Land transport connects to other major systems through terminals. Airports and seaports act as stations where people and cargo transfer between modes. For example, airport rail links connect travelers to city centers.

Terminals for automobiles are often parking lots, while buses use simple stops. Transport can be categorized by who uses it. Public transport is provided by government or commercial entities for the general public. Commercial transport aims to make a profit, while military transport supports military operations. Private transport is used by individuals for their own needs.