COLEGIO DE STA. ANA DE VICTORIAS, INC.

Osmeña Avenue, Victorias City, Negros Occidental, 6119

MODULE 6 - 7
LEARNING MODULE
BLENDED FLEXIBLE LEARNING
Transportation Management (TMPC 111)

AN OVERVIEW

INTRODUCTION

Think about all of the different ways that you can travel. You can walk, ride your
bike, drive a car or fly on plane. Another option that you have is to travel on a train.
Some train rides are short and travel within a city. These are known as inter-city
trains, like the subway train in New York City. Other trains can take you long
distances. These trains have the complete hook up! On long-distance trains, you are
able to get up and walk around, visit the dining car or even sleep in your very own
bed in the sleeping car. You will know more about rail transportation in the
upcoming lessons.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this module, you should be able to:

1. To classify the different designs of rail transportation.

2. To describe the differences, uses, and complexity of the different types of
rail transportation.
3. To recognize the role of trains to the public and tourists.
4. To relate the different concepts, products, and services of rail travel in the
real world.

LEARNING RESOURCES

Pearson Education South Asia Pte, Ltd., (2019) Tourism Principles and Practice,
Pearson Education South Asia Pte, Ltd, Singapore

LEARNING INPUTS

MEANING AND DESIGNS OF TRAINS

LESSON 1

Rail transport is also known as train transport. Laid the foundation for the
modern tourism industry. It is a means of transport, on vehicles which run on tracks
(rails or railroads). It is one of the most important, commonly used, and very cost-
effective modes of commuting and goods carriage over long, as well as, short

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 COLEGIO DE STA. ANA DE VICTORIAS, INC.
Osmeña Avenue, Victorias City, Negros Occidental, 6119

distances. The main purpose of trains is to transport passengers or cargo. The word
‘train’ comes from the Latin word ‘trahere’ meaning ‘to pull.’
Its system runs on metal (usually steel) rails and wheels, it has an inherent
benefit of lesser frictional resistance which helps attach more load in terms of
wagons or carriages. This system is known as a train. Usually, trains are powered by
an engine locomotive running on electricity or diesel. Complex signaling systems are
utilized if there are multiple route networks.

Types of Train Design

There are two main categories of how trains are built: bogies and locomotive.
Bogies were popular before the 19th century and are still used in some parts of the
world as a tourist attraction. Nowadays, most train systems are based on locomotive
travel since it is more efficient.

 Bogies

Bogies are wheeled trolleys or wagons that were traditionally used to transport
cargo. Bogies are the framework, the guiding system, that carries the wheels that are
attached to the train itself. Bogie train compartments can be fixed in place or
mounted to another locomotive or wagon. Most bogies are made with two axles
since that is the simplest design but the design needs to be customized for heavier
loads and cargo.

 Locomotive Trains

Historically, trains used to be gravity-powered or hauled by horses and ropes. In

the 19th century, the steam locomotive was invented and then replaced by electric
or diesel versions. They became popular since they required less labor; however,
they were more expensive and complex. These trains became the most popular
medium for the transportation of passengers.

LESSON 2 TYPES OF TRAINS

Passenger trains can be fast and are often really long so that they can carry more
passengers. They may have a self-powered unit or a combination of locomotives.
These trains travel between depots or stations, where passengers can disembark or
board. They usually have a fixed schedule, which is why they often have superior
track occupancy rights over other trains like freight. There are three main types of
passenger trains: long-distance, short-distance, and trains within cities.

A. Long-Distance Trains

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Long-distance trains are built for travels between different cities or a region of a
country. They even cross through several countries at times. They usually have a
restaurant or dining car so that passengers can have a pleasant meal during their
journey. Trains that travel overnight also have sleeping cars so that passengers can
rest during the travel. Distances over 500 miles are usually reserved for air travel,
but trains are a cheap and popular way to travel long distances in many countries.
There are many different types of long-distance trains around the world.

a) High-Speed Rail

The high-speed rail is built for long-distance travel since it can get passengers to
their destination quicker. Generally, high-speed trains run at speeds above 200
km/h. Their dedicated tracks are designed to accommodate such high speeds
without the risk of fire from friction. The high-speed train is reduced time and money
costs. They are also far more environmentally friendly than airplanes. They can carry
more passengers and also use less fuel. They reduce the time costs of airport
boarding, check-in, takeoff, and disembarking.

The first successful high-speed passenger railway system as Japan’s Shinkansen

in 1964. This train was popularly known as the bullet train. In modern times, the
fastest passenger trains in the world are the Wuhan–Guangzhou High-Speed Railway
system and Beijing–Tianjin Intercity Rail. They have been known to reach speeds of
350 km/h.

b) Inter-City Trains

Inter-city trains are generally long-distance trains that connect metropolitan

areas in a country. The distances they cover are usually comparable to airline flights
but they still move at highway speeds. They may provide some amenities like sleeper
cars or dining options.

Inter-city railways may sometimes provide international services as well. This is

popular in Europe where travel is more open and around 50 countries are in close
proximity. The main examples of such trains are the EuroCity and Eurostar, which
people use as a comfortable option to travel long distances.

c) Regional Trains

Regional railways connect stops between nearby cities. They make more stops
over a shorter distance than inter-city trains, but travel longer distances than

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commuter trains. They operate beyond just urban areas and often connect the cities
to rural regions of the country.

B. Short-Distance Trains

Short-distance trains are designed to carry more passengers. Their seating

systems are often more packed and can even have space for people to travel while
standing. The objective of these trains is to mass-transport people over short
distances. This makes them more eco-friendly than cars and they also reduce the
burden on the roads.

d) Commuter Trains

They connect suburban areas with the center of the city. The main purpose of
the regional train is to take passengers to and from work. These trains are usually
scheduled for rush hours and weekdays. They only travel to peak directions to save
fuel costs. Regional railways have more stops over shorter distances. In the US,
commuter trains are usually locomotive trains while regional trains in Europe
typically have multiple electric units.

Commuter trains are an efficient mode of transport that reduces the burden of
road traffic. They carry people through smaller surface areas and reduced air
pollution. Some carriages of commuter trains are built with more standing space
than seats. They even facilitate wheelchairs, and cycles.

C. Within City Trains

There are over 31 cities in the world that are home to over 10 million people.
This creates the need for many mass-transit systems across the city. Different types
of transport are needed to handle the hustle and bustle of cities daily. Without such
transport systems, cities can often choke from the amount of traffic.

a) Rapid Transit Trains

Large cities often rely on a metro system. These systems can also be called
tubes, subway, or underground rails. They are usually powered by electricity
coursing through a unique third rail. The railroads are separate from other traffic like
underground tunnels in the city’s center or on elevated overhead structures in the
suburbs. They are designed to decelerate and accelerate faster than long-distance
trains which are much heavier.

b) Tram

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In the UK, there is a set distinction between a railway and a tramway under the
law. In the United States and Canada, similar trains are referred to as streetcars or
trolleys. The main difference between a railroad and a tramway system is actually
that trams mostly run on public streets while trains have a separate path from public
roads.

c) Light Rail

Light rails are often referred to as the modern tram systems but they usually
have their own separate paths similar to heavy-line railways. They are a mixture of a
tram and a train. Unlike subway trains, light rails may even have level crossings,
which are often protected with crossing gates. In some underdevelopment sites and
deprived areas, abandoned heavy rails are often used as modern light rails to
connect the areas with larger cities.

d) Monorail

A monorail is a railway system which has a single track of a beam or rail. They were
developed to meet the medium demands of traffic in urban areas and typically run
on elevated rail tracks. Almost all monorails are designed with linear induction
motors.

e) Maglev

Maglev is a word derived from ‘magnetic levitation’. It is a transport system that

uses two sets of magnets to push the train off the track. Another magnet is used to
move the floating train ahead at great speeds since there is no friction that needs to
be accounted for. They don’t travel too far but still give high-speed rails and airplane
favorable competition.

Maglev technology-based trains have no real moving parts. The only moving part
is the train which travels along a specific guide-way through magnets to control the
speed and stability of the train. They are smoother and quieter than heavy-duty
conventional trains due to this very reason. They can also decelerate and accelerate
much quicker than normal trains.

f) Railcar

The railcar is a self-propelled railway transportation system that moves

passengers towards their destinations. Railcars are often used to refer to a single car,
coach or carriage with a driver’s cabin at both ends of the vehicle. These vehicles are
also capable of hauling train carriages; in technical rail usage, they are often referred
to as motor cars or rail motor coaches.

g) Named Trains

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Railway companies often give their name a specific name as a marketing

strategy. This increases the profile of the service and even attracts more passengers.
Usually, the most prestigious trains are given names like high-speed express trains
that travel between cities. Some of the most famous trains include the Flying
Scotsman, the Deccan Queen, the Royal Scot, and Orient Express; the latter has also
been featured in many films including the Murder on the Orient Express.

h) Automated People Mover (APM) Trains

The Automated People Mover (APM) is a small-scale guide-way transit system

used in small areas like airports, theme parks, downtown districts, or under the
Capitol Building. They can utilize different technologies like a monorail, duo rail, or
maglev.

Some APMs are smaller vehicles that work on off-line stations to move
passengers quickly over small areas non-stop. Larger vehicles can carry 20 to 40
people.

i) Freight Trains

Freight trains are also referred to as goods trains since they transport materials
or cargo. They are not designed to carry passengers at all. Most of the world’s freight
is transport by such trains and they are essential to the industry. In many countries,
the railway system is mostly used to transport goods rather than passengers
including the United States.

Transporting freight by train can be economical under the right circumstances.

They are also an energy-efficient option than by road. They can carry a lot of bulk
over large distances quicker than trucks and aren’t that suited to short-distance
travel.