(a) Economic importance of rail transport
(a) It opens up new areas for economic activities
(b) It links one settlement to another
(c) It links producers to consumers
(d) It conveys raw materials to factories
(e) It helps to distribute finished goods to markets
(f) Rails link different regions, thus promoting national integration
(g) It facilitates movement of people/labour/troops
(h) It helps in the diffusion of innovations and ideas
(i) It fosters international relations
(j) It provides employment and promotes tourism
(k) It generates revenue and income
(b) Problems of rail transport are as follows:
(1) Inadequate capital
(2) High cost of spare parts
(3) Poor maintenance
(4) Poor standard coaches
(5) Poor management/planning
(6) Narrow gauges and single track
(7) Slow speed in developing countries
(8) Derailment due to flooding
(9) Affected by steep gradient/terrain
(10) High cost of construction
(11) Competition from other modes of transportation e.g road and air
(12) Poor time schedule
(13) Not flexible and low patronage
(14) Low level of technology / skills in developing countries.
(c) Solutions to the problems of rail transport
(i) Improvement in management skills / techniques
(ii) Proper maintenance
(iii) Use of uniform gauges
(iv) Training and retraining of personnel
(v) Adequate drainage system
(vi) Provision of wider gauge to increase speed
(vii) Provision of embankment to check steep gradient
(viii) Provision of loans from banks
(ix) Improved standard coaches
(x) Provision of faster engines and coaches
(xi) Internal manufacturing of spare parts
(xii) Provision of improved communication system
(xiii) Construction of double tracks.