Editing Rail transport (section)

===Usage===
[[File:VR Sr1 3015 Kuopio Drawbridge.jpg|thumb|A [[VR Class Sr1|Sr1]]-pulled lumber train crossing the drawbridge along the [[Savonia railway]] in [[Kuopio|Kuopio, Finland]]]]
Due to these benefits, rail transport is a major form of passenger and freight transport in many countries.<ref name="economictimes.indiatimes.com"/> It is ubiquitous in Europe, with an integrated network covering virtually the whole continent. In India, China, South Korea and Japan, many millions use trains as regular transport. In North America, freight rail transport is widespread and heavily used, but intercity passenger rail transport is relatively scarce outside the [[Northeast Corridor]], due to increased preference of other modes, particularly automobiles and airplanes.<ref name="EuDaly, K, et al. 2009. Complete Book of North American Railroading"/>{{page needed|date=July 2015}}<ref name="APTA stats">{{cite web| url=http://www.apta.com/research/stats/ridership/| title=Public Transportation Ridership Statistics| publisher=American Public Transportation Association| year=2007| access-date=10 September 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070815101950/http://www.apta.com/research/stats/ridership/ <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 15 August 2007}}</ref> However, implementing new and improved ways such as making it easily accessible within neighborhoods can aid in reducing commuters from using private vehicles and airplanes.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Baum-Snow |first1=Nathaniel |last2=Kahn |first2=Matthew E. |title=The effects of new public projects to expand urban rail transit |journal=Journal of Public Economics |date=August 2000 |volume=77 |issue=2 |pages=241–263 |doi=10.1016/S0047-2727(99)00085-7 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0047272799000857 |access-date=16 March 2022 |archive-date=14 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314155133/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0047272799000857 |url-status=live }}</ref>

South Africa, northern Africa and Argentina have extensive rail networks, but some railways elsewhere in Africa and South America are isolated lines. Australia has a generally sparse network befitting its population density but has some areas with significant networks, especially in the southeast. In addition to the previously existing east–west transcontinental line in Australia, a line from north to south has been constructed. The highest railway in the world is the [[Qingzang railway|line to Lhasa]], in Tibet,<ref>{{Cite news|publisher=Xinhua News Agency|date=24 August 2005|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-08/24/content_3397297.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050913000430/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-08/24/content_3397297.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 September 2005|title=New height of world's railway born in Tibet|access-date=8 May 2011}}</ref> partly running over permafrost territory. Western Europe has the highest railway density in the world and many individual trains there operate through several countries despite technical and organizational differences in each national network.