Transportation System in Europe

April 13th, 2022

Hello guys, Semester at Sea is ending, and I have been working on comparative assignments of all the ports we have visited. One of the elements I found fascinating was the transportation system, and I wanted to share briefly with you how my experience has been in some of the countries we have visited. I will focus on Croatia, Spain, France, and Scotland.

My experience with public transportation was quite similar while visiting the two islands of Croatia, Dubrovnik, and Malta, Valletta. Because both nations are small islands, the bus was the most convenient method to get about. Dubrovnik’s public transportation was reliable and easy to use. The Libertas company operates it, and there are 12 bus lines that connect all areas of the city to the city center. Malta’s small size also made moving about quick and convenient. Both islands do not require the use of a car since public transit is enough.

Spain and France have nearly identical public transit systems, and they have been my two favorite places to visit thus far because how easy is to move around. The countries with the most high-speed trains are Spain and France. Because the metro can take you anywhere, buses aren’t as common as they are in Croatia and Malta. It appealed to me since it is simple to understand, especially if you have a map program, such as Google Maps.

Scotland was the last port I visited with excellent and efficient public transportation. Scotland’s public transportation network includes local bus services, express coaches, national rail services, ferries, the Glasgow subway, and Edinburgh tram routes. It is estimated that 95 percent of the population lives within a five-minute walk of a bus stop, suggesting that transportation is likely to be easy to find.

Studying in-depth how these countries’ transportation systems would require time. However, while comparing these countries, and talking to locals I learned that the way public transport is designed in Europe aims to guarantee the uniform, efficient, safe, and free movement of people and goods through integrated networks with all means of transport (road, rail, water, and air). In addition, Europe addresses issues as varied as climate change, passenger rights, clean fuels, and reducing customs-related bureaucracy at ports. Public transport also helps keep the European economy going by developing a network of modern infrastructures that make travel faster and safer while contributing to digital and sustainable solutions.

Transport is a keystone of Europe, and its importance is vital for the people to access to employment, goods, services, leisure, and social networks.