Question

Give five important points on railways in Europe.

Answer 1

Europe has one of the most dense rail networks in the world. There is about 4,40,000 km of railways, most of which are double or multiple-tracked. Belgium has the highest density of 1 km of the railway for every 6.5 sq km area. The industrial regions exhibit some of the highest densities in the world. The important railheads 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 different parts of the country’s vast geographical area. Underground railways and commuter trains are also important in Moscow. The Trans-Siberian railways and the Orient Express are some of the important railways in Europe.