--- title: "Components of transportation system" subject: "Transportation Engineering I" chapter: 1 key: "semester_6/transportation_engineering_i:transport-components" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/transportation_engineering_i/transport-components site: BCT Engineering --- # Components of transportation system Transportation Engineering I · Chapter 1: Introduction to Transportation Planning and engineering - Asked in: 2081 Chaitra, 4 marks; 2080 Chaitra, 4 marks; 2079 Ashwin, 4 marks; 2079 Jestha, 4 marks; 2076 Bhadra, 8 marks; 2072 Ashwin (asked 6 times) - Video: [Module 01-B: The Transportation System](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Of8egoTF-I) — AI Engineering Academy (for AI and FE Lessons) - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/transportation_engineering_i/transport-components - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/transportation_engineering_i/chapter-1 ## Question Discuss the components (and characteristics) of the transportation system. ## Short answer Key components are way, terminals, vehicles, motive power, control system, and users. Demand is derived; characteristics include speed, capacity, safety, cost, accessibility, reliability, comfort, and environmental impact. ## Answer A transportation system is the combination of fixed facilities, vehicles and operating rules that move people and goods from one place to another. #### Main components 1. **Way (infrastructure/track):** the path on which movement takes place - road, rail track, air route, waterway, pipeline. 2. **Terminals:** points where journeys begin and end or where change of mode takes place - bus park, railway station, airport, port, truck terminal. 3. **Vehicles (carriers):** the units that carry load - bus, truck, train, aircraft, ship. 4. **Motive power (prime mover):** the energy source driving the vehicle - petrol/diesel engine, electric motor, jet engine, steam. 5. **Operating (control) system:** traffic rules, signals, signs, time-tables, licensing, communication and management that keep movement safe and orderly. 6. **Users / human element:** passengers, drivers, shippers - their needs and behaviour decide the demand. ```text Origin --> [Terminal] --> [Way + Vehicle] --> [Terminal] --> Destination ^ ^ ^ | Motive power + Control system | ``` #### Characteristics of a transport system - **Demand** (derived demand: people travel to reach an activity) and **supply** (capacity of the facility). - **Speed, capacity and safety** of the mode. - **Cost:** capital, operating and user cost. - **Accessibility and reliability** (frequency, punctuality). - **Comfort and convenience; environmental impact** (noise, pollution, energy use). - **Flexibility** of route and schedule. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. A transportation system is best described as which of the following? A. Only the roads and tracks B. Only the vehicles used C. A combination of fixed facilities, vehicles and operating rules that move people and goods D. Only the traffic rules and signals Answer: C. The system combines fixed facilities, vehicles and operating rules. (Key point: Definition of a transportation system) 2. Which of these is a terminal in a transport system? A. Bus park or railway station B. Diesel engine C. Traffic signal D. Highway surface Answer: A. Terminals are the points where journeys begin, end or change mode, such as bus parks, stations, airports and ports. (Key point: Terminals) 3. What is the 'motive power' (prime mover) of a transport system? A. The unit that carries the load, e.g. a bus B. The path on which movement takes place C. The set of traffic rules D. The energy source driving the vehicle, e.g. diesel engine or electric motor Answer: D. Motive power is the energy source driving the vehicle; the vehicle is the carrier and the way is the path. (Key point: Motive power vs vehicle) 4. What does it mean that travel demand is a 'derived demand'? A. People travel in order to reach an activity, not for travel itself B. Demand is derived from vehicle supply only C. Demand is fixed by the government D. Demand depends only on fares Answer: A. Travel is derived because people travel to reach activities such as work, school or markets. (Key point: Derived demand) ## Related in Transportation Engineering I - [Components of highway drainage system](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Ftransportation_engineering_i%3Adrainage-components) — Transportation Engineering I, chapter 4 - [Modes of transportation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Ftransportation_engineering_i%3Amodes-of-transport) — Transportation Engineering I, chapter 1, asked 5× - [Components of economic appraisal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Ftransportation_engineering_i%3Aeconomic-appraisal) — Transportation Engineering I, chapter 2 - [Surface drainage system](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Ftransportation_engineering_i%3Asurface-drainage-system) — Transportation Engineering I, chapter 4 ## Related in other subjects - [Human-vehicle-environment system; driver characteristics](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftransportation_engineering_ii%3Ahve-system-driver-physical-characteristics) — Transportation Engineering II, chapter 1 - [Components of canal irrigation system](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Firrigation_and_drainage_engineering%3Acanal-components-sketch) — Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, chapter 3, asked 7× - [Typical water supply system and components](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fwater_supply_engineering%3Atypical-ws-system-components) — Water Supply Engineering, chapter 1, asked 4× - [Essential components of a DAQ system](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Finstrumentation_ii%3Adaq-components) — Instrumentation II, chapter 5, asked 3×