Reliable transport infrastructure systems are vital for the functioning of modern societies. People in their everyday lives, as well as trade and industry, plan their activities on the assumption that it is possible to travel and to transport goods between different places in a fast, safe and predictable way. Over time the development of the transport infrastructure has allowed people and goods to be transported at higher speeds. This has contributed, for good or bad, to a spatial reorganisation of many human activities on a local as well as a global geographical scale. Transport systems, as all technical systems, are more or less reliable, however. This is an important aspect of the quality of transport services, which may have spatial implications. In many big cities capacity shortages lead to congestion and unreliable transports that hamper the development. In rural areas lack of alternative transport routes, in case the main route has to be closed for some reason, contributes to make these areas less attractive for location.
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