Overview
Gudrun Winner-Athens, the Managing Director of a German forwarding company, the Winner Expedition, explained that railways are very competitive with large uniform loads, especially over long distances and across international borders. Trains accommodate and transport cargo of odd shapes because most of them do not pass through congested areas. Therefore, it is easy to transport goods of any shape or size provided it fits in the cargo wagons. She believes that trains travel at high speeds, and this enables people to save time and other costs that are usually associated with delays. Most trains do not make unnecessary stops because the railways cannot be used by more than one vessel at a time. This means that there is an uninterrupted movement of people and goods from one point to another. Railway systems are planned and changed easily, and this means that they do not interfere with other development projects. Most countries are still using the initial infrastructure established during the industrial era because new wagons fit into them without difficulties.
Why the Provider Shifted from Rail to Motor Modes
Most people usually think that trains are faster than motor vehicles. I think that the reverse is true if the speed is calculated based on the time taken to travel between two points (Rietveld, & Nijkamp, 2002). Commuters enjoy a fast transport system when moving from one point to another. However, the company spends more fuel and wastes a lot of time when loading and offloading cargo and waiting for passengers to board or disembark from the train (Shen, & Ye, 2014). A train moves at an average speed of 45-55 kilometers per hour while a truck could go for 60-70 kilometers per hour. Therefore, the company decided to shift from rail to road transport to save time and reduce the delays that inconvenienced clients.
The relocation of people from rural to urban areas forced the company to shift from rail to road transport. Urbanization attracts people to urban centers to look for opportunities in various sectors like investments, employment and education. The movement of people becomes restricted because they travel short distances from homes to offices (Rietveld, & Nijkamp, 2002). Moreover, the increase in demand for cheap and flexible transport systems motivated the company to change its operations and invest in truck services.
Reasons for the High Traffic Accidents after the Shift to Motor Freight Carriers
The shift from railway to road transport attracts a lot of people who wish to move and transport goods within a short time. The high demand for truck services means that the company must meet the needs of their clients. However, the existing low and poor infrastructural capacity could not offer the required services. I think that the poor states of most roads cause traffic accidents because motorists struggle to drive to various destinations (Johansson, Pearce, & Madison, 2014). Besides, the rugged terrain of most regions hampers the movement and stability of vehicles. My observation leads to a conclusion that motorists have to struggle and drive through rough terrain. Other natural barriers like snowfalls, mist and fog alter visibility and cause road accidents. Moreover, most motorists are careless and do not pay attention to road signs. They think they are the only ones on the roads, and this contributes to an increase in the number of accidents. I believe that mechanical breakdowns, substance abuse and unqualified drivers are common reasons that make road transport have more accidents than railways.
References
Johansson, O., Pearce, D., & Madison, D. (2014). Blueprint 5: True Costs of Road Transport. London: Routledge.
Rietveld, P., & Nijkamp, P. (2002). Handbook of Transportation Science. New Jersey: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Shen, J., & Ye, Y. (2014). High Capacity Transport Associated with Pre-and Post-Haulage in Intermodal Rail-Road Transport. New York: Wiley.