Train station in the city of
Mumbai. Railways in
India carry about 17 million passengers every year
and are one of the busiest in the world
Rail transport is the movement of passengers and goods using wheeled vehicles called trains, made to run on railway tracks. In most countries, this transportation method helps trade and economic growth. Railways (British English) or railroads (American English) provide an energy-efficient way to transport material over land. The railway tracks are a large part of the system and provide smooth and hard surfaces on which the wheels of the train roll with a little friction. Also, the track spreads the weight of the train which means larger amounts can be carried than with trucks (all types: box truck, concrete mixer truck, cutaway van chassis, water tanker truck, oil tanker truck, milk tanker truck, dropside truck, fire engine truck, container truck, tow truck, dual drive/steer truck, logging truck, garbage truck, stakebed truck, dual drive/steer truck, vacuum truck, platform truck, bucket truck, flatbed truck, sprinkler truck, food truck, semi-trailer truck (tractor), ice cream truck, and dump truck) on roads.