Technological advancements led to improvements in land, air and sea transportation
Speed
Different Modes of transportation such as trains, ships, aircrafts, have improved in terms of speed. They can now travel much faster and cover longer distances
| 1830 | Since 1964 |
|---|---|
| - Liverpool and Manchester Railway marked the beginning of steam- powered rail travel. The railway covered a distance of approximately 50km and its trains travelled at about 48km/h | Shinkansen bullet trains in Japan are among the world’s fastest trains. As of 2023, the rail network covers a distance of around 3478 km and its trains can travel up to 320km |
Capacity
Land, Sea and Air transportation have also improved in terms of capacity. This means that more people and goods can be carried per trip to different parts of the world.
| 1800s | Since 1956 |
|---|---|
| Steam powered ships first sailed across the atlantic ocean between America and Europe, and later along shipping routes to Asia. Due to space taken up by its large engine capacity and fuel, it had limiting carrying capacity | Depending on their size, container ships have a carrying capacity ranging from 25000 to 600000 tonnes |
Costs
Technological advancements in transportation have sped up the movement of larger volumes of goods, services and people per trip around the world. This has resulted in lower transport costs
| 1950s | 1990s |
|---|---|
| in 1950s - flying was considered a luxury experience. Apart from the affluent and business travellers, few people could afford it | With the rise of low cost airlines, the cost of flights has decreased substantially. With lower airfares, more people are not able to afford air travel |
| Advancements in transportation also include development of supporting infrastructures such as highways, railways, seaports and airports | |
| → as a result → transport services have become more readily available and affordable over time |
All these developments in transportation → contribute toward acceleration of globalisation. This has lede to “shrinking world” as people, goods, services - able to move around world more quickly in larger volumes and at lower costs.
- business activities and ideas are thus becoming more interconnected and interdependent globally
Example
Singapore - A Global Transport Hub
- singapore has global transport hub due to its strategic geographical location and advanced infrastructure. It is highly connected with the rest of the world through land, air, sea (commonly referred to as maritime) transport networks. These networks provide SG with access to vital trade links with other countries #SocialStudiesExamples
Example
Land Transport
- SG Johor Causeway and the Tuas second link connect SG and MY by land. This land connectivity allows essential goods, such as food into SG. It facilitates commute of workers daily between MY and SG, and also supports import of water between 2 countries #SocialStudiesExamples
Example
Air Transport
- SG is a key transit node on many flight routes that connect the Americans, Europe, Asia and Australasia. Asia’s economic rise has further strengthened SG’s status as an important aviation hub. SG has an advantage as it is located within a seven hour flight radius of major markets in East Asia and Southeast Asia
Example
Maritime Transport
- Port of SG is situated at the crossroads of some of the worlds busiest commercial shipping lanes that connect Asia, Middle East, Europe and Americas. It serves as a transhipment and refuelling hub. Annually over 130000 vessels call at port of SG, which serves about 200 shipping lines linking more than 600 ports in over 120 countries