(a) State four services rendered by courier companies. (b) State three advantages and three disadvantages of rail transport

(a) Four services rendered by courier companies

1. Fast collection and delivery of parcels, documents and packages from door to door.
2. Tracking of items so that senders and receivers can monitor the movement of their consignments.
3. Delivery of urgent business documents such as contracts, cheques and legal papers.
4. Packaging and safe handling of fragile and valuable items, sometimes with insurance cover.

Other services include international express delivery and cash-on-delivery arrangements.

(b) Three advantages of rail transport

1. It is suitable for carrying heavy and bulky goods over long distances at relatively low cost.
2. It is fast and runs to a fixed timetable, so it is fairly reliable and not affected by traffic jams.
3. It is safer, with a lower risk of accidents, and can carry large quantities of goods and many passengers at once.

Three disadvantages of rail transport

1. It is inflexible because trains can move only along fixed rail routes and cannot provide door-to-door service.
2. It requires very heavy capital to construct and maintain the rail lines and stations.
3. It is unsuitable for perishable goods and small, urgent consignments over short distances.