---
title: "Railway versus road transportation"
subject: "Transportation Engineering I"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_6/transportation_engineering_i:railway-vs-road"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/transportation_engineering_i/railway-vs-road
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Railway versus road transportation

Transportation Engineering I · Chapter 1: Introduction to Transportation Planning and engineering

- Asked in: 2079 Jestha, 4 marks
- Video: [Comparison Of Railway Transport And Highway Transport | Railway Engineering |](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoUrhVHjJgI) — Tech Chefs
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/transportation_engineering_i/railway-vs-road
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/transportation_engineering_i/chapter-1

## Question

What are the advantage and disadvantage of Railway with respect to road transportation?

## Short answer

Railways move large bulk cheaply and safely but have high capital cost, no door-to-door service, fixed routes, and are unsuitable for short distances or steep terrain.

## Answer

**Advantages of railway over road**
1. **High capacity** and low cost per tonne-km for bulk goods over long distances.
2. **Lower energy use** and operating cost per tonne-km; electric traction is possible.
3. **Safer** per passenger-km, with fewer accidents and less pollution.
4. **Less congestion:** the track is separate from other traffic and has its own right of way.
5. **Reliable and punctual,** and little affected by weather; good for long-distance passengers.
6. **Long life** of the track, with no wear of public roads by heavy freight.
7. **Comfortable** long journeys, with space to move, sleep and carry large luggage.

**Disadvantages of railway compared with road**
1. **Very high capital cost** for tracks, stations, bridges and tunnels.
2. **No door-to-door service:** transhipment at the station adds cost and time and causes extra loss/damage.
3. **Fixed route and timetable** - low flexibility.
4. **Unsuitable for short distances** and small loads.
5. **Needs gentle gradients** (about 1 in 100) and large-radius curves; difficult in hills.
6. **Long construction time** and large land acquisition; needs trained manpower.
7. Maintenance of the track and rolling stock is costly.

Because of its flexibility and low initial cost, road transport is better suited to hilly Nepal; rail suits the Terai corridors with heavy freight.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. For which situation is railway better than road?
   A. Short distance, small loads
   B. Bulk goods over long distances at low cost per tonne-km
   C. Door-to-door delivery
   D. Steep hill areas
   Answer: B. Rail has high capacity and low cost per tonne-km for bulk goods over long distances. (Key point: Railway advantage)

2. Why is railway disadvantaged by lack of door-to-door service?
   A. Transhipment at the station adds cost, time and loss/damage
   B. It lowers capacity
   C. It raises track cost only
   D. It makes trains slower
   Answer: A. Goods must be transhipped at stations, adding cost, time and risk of damage. (Key point: Transhipment drawback)

3. What gradient limitation makes railways hard in hills?
   A. They need about 1 in 100 gentle gradient and large curves
   B. They can climb 1 in 10
   C. They need no curves
   D. They need gradients over 12%
   Answer: A. Railways need gentle gradient (about 1 in 100) and large curves, making hills difficult. (Key point: Gradient limit)

4. Why is road better than rail in hilly Nepal?
   A. Roads are less flexible
   B. Rail has low cost
   C. Rail has more flexibility
   D. Road has flexibility and low initial cost
   Answer: D. Road's flexibility and low initial cost suit hills; rail suits Terai freight corridors. (Key point: Choice for Nepal)

## Related in Transportation Engineering I

- [Railway versus air transportation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Ftransportation_engineering_i%3Arailway-vs-air) — Transportation Engineering I, chapter 1
- [Public versus private transportation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Ftransportation_engineering_i%3Apublic-private) — Transportation Engineering I, chapter 1, asked 3×