Common Problems for Transport Systems

There are four major types of problems that affect transport systems:

• Capacity. A basic constraint concerns appropriate capacity, both along a transport route and at a terminal. The capacity of a transport system is often restricted by its circulation bottlenecks.
• Transfer. Transfer points are crucial as they permit the interface between different transport systems, a role commonly served by hubs or gateways.
• Reliability. A multidimensional problem that concern the expectation that a movement will occur within a specific time and cost range. While a route could be shorter, it may not be as reliable as a longer route. Congestion is a common factor impairing the reliability of a transport system.
• Integration. Exploiting the benefits of each transport mode so that flows become more reliable and/or less costly. This goal is sought by intermodal transportation, but also by airline companies connecting different parts of the world.