Trains and rail transport

Advantages

• Is relatively cheap
• Caries bulk goods such as coal and unprocessed ores
• Carries large amounts of goods and
• Carries large amounts of passengers
• They are comfortable
• Can be very fast
• They are less prone to accidents

Disadvantages

• Does not provide door to door service.
• Cannot scale steep gradients e.g. Eastern Highlands
• Require railway lines which are expensive to construct.
• Restrictive e.g. trains in the SADC region may be unable to service other countries as they use different railway gauges.
• Require special handling equipment to load and unload.
• Is not versatile as special trailers are required for some loads.
• Is relatively slower than other forms of transport e.g. air.
• Not suitable for perishable goods.
• In Zimbabwe we have only one track which means trains cannot pass each other.

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