1.2.11.1 Roads
A good road network (or a road in good condition) provides road access and
connectivity to markets, schools, hospitals. Backward regions can use this basic
infrastructure for trade and investment. (see Chap. 2 for the case of Budapest). Roads
develop inter-modal transport networks by establishing connections with railway
stations, harbours and airports. An efficient road network is a sine qua non for rapid
growth.
Road transport connects the remote and hilly areas to the rest of the country,
thereby enabling social integration and further economic development. Ease of
access, operational flexibility, door-to-door service and reliability count as benefits
of road transport over other transport modes. However, these also create road
congestion as they increase both passenger and freight traffic. The complication is
that any further investment to improve road transport leads to an increase in the
number of users, thereby leading to further road congestion – a vicious circle indeed.
Thus, an associated problem of the road transportation is road congestion. Is there
an alternative which minimises it? Part of the answer should lie with our spatial
organisation. (see Chap. 3).
1.2.11.2 Water Transport
The specific features of water transport and its special merits can be observed under
several distinct and distinguishing circumstances of use.
First, the ferry is usually used for short distance water trips. Although its slow
speed, combined with embarking hassles, shows sharp contrast with the speed and
ease of land travel, the ferry has not disappeared as a means of transport. Progress in
bridge construction techniques and tunnelling, may have significantly reduced the
number of ferries in operation. With the construction of the “Chunnel” – tunnel
under the English Channel – it was believed that ferry service and the hovercraft
would have significantly reduced. Surprisingly, both means of transport are still
much in use, thereby having significantly impacted on the income expected to be
generated by the operation of the “Chunnel”.
Secondly, canal and river navigation, though having been widely used in the past,
has seen a reduced activity due to road transport improvements, in particular for
perishable goods and small consignments. However, developments in barge design
and propulsion have maintained this means of water transport, either for goods or for
touristic travel. The vessels can be regularly seen on the large rivers, Thames, Seine
or Danube or even smaller ones. Heavy goods suitable for bulk transportation are
convenient to both railways and canals, where large volumes bring in economies of
scale. However, here, railways have a speed advantage over canals.
Thirdly, transportation of sea freight long distances has a good market, again with
economies of scale, with bigger and bigger cargo ships or tankers with a minimum of
personnel aboard given the amount of technology now being inbuilt. Of course, air
1.2 Examples of Infrastructure
21
A good road network (or a road in good condition) provides road access and
connectivity to markets, schools, hospitals. Backward regions can use this basic
infrastructure for trade and investment. (see Chap. 2 for the case of Budapest). Roads
develop inter-modal transport networks by establishing connections with railway
stations, harbours and airports. An efficient road network is a sine qua non for rapid
growth.
Road transport connects the remote and hilly areas to the rest of the country,
thereby enabling social integration and further economic development. Ease of
access, operational flexibility, door-to-door service and reliability count as benefits
of road transport over other transport modes. However, these also create road
congestion as they increase both passenger and freight traffic. The complication is
that any further investment to improve road transport leads to an increase in the
number of users, thereby leading to further road congestion – a vicious circle indeed.
Thus, an associated problem of the road transportation is road congestion. Is there
an alternative which minimises it? Part of the answer should lie with our spatial
organisation. (see Chap. 3).
1.2.11.2 Water Transport
The specific features of water transport and its special merits can be observed under
several distinct and distinguishing circumstances of use.
First, the ferry is usually used for short distance water trips. Although its slow
speed, combined with embarking hassles, shows sharp contrast with the speed and
ease of land travel, the ferry has not disappeared as a means of transport. Progress in
bridge construction techniques and tunnelling, may have significantly reduced the
number of ferries in operation. With the construction of the “Chunnel” – tunnel
under the English Channel – it was believed that ferry service and the hovercraft
would have significantly reduced. Surprisingly, both means of transport are still
much in use, thereby having significantly impacted on the income expected to be
generated by the operation of the “Chunnel”.
Secondly, canal and river navigation, though having been widely used in the past,
has seen a reduced activity due to road transport improvements, in particular for
perishable goods and small consignments. However, developments in barge design
and propulsion have maintained this means of water transport, either for goods or for
touristic travel. The vessels can be regularly seen on the large rivers, Thames, Seine
or Danube or even smaller ones. Heavy goods suitable for bulk transportation are
convenient to both railways and canals, where large volumes bring in economies of
scale. However, here, railways have a speed advantage over canals.
Thirdly, transportation of sea freight long distances has a good market, again with
economies of scale, with bigger and bigger cargo ships or tankers with a minimum of
personnel aboard given the amount of technology now being inbuilt. Of course, air
1.2 Examples of Infrastructure
21