What is an Airport?
Airport refers to an area reserved for aircraft activity. This means that different types of airplanes and jets will either land or take off from this area. A typical runway strip facilitates this process and is one of the most crucial parts of an airport.
Other parts of an airport include a control tower for monitoring, the landing area for planes, and terminals for boarding passengers. Larger airports might include flight lines, taxiway bridges, lounges, and restaurants. Some nations also have fixed-based operators which serve the general purpose of aviation.
Most of the airports in the world facilitate international flight systems. This means that you can travel inter-continents with the help of airports and airplanes. This is why airports have a very high level of security checks to ensure complete safety
Airports also contribute vastly to both air and noise pollution because of high jet emissions. This is why modern airports are built according to strict environmental norms. Furthermore, they are prone to disasters like extreme weather, rise in sea level, and climate change.
The tourism industry is greatly benefitted by the presence of airports. International flights from airports allow millions of tourists to visit several countries.
What is a Railway Station?
A railway station is a railway facility for providing stoppage points for multiple types of trains. These trains can stop at the railway stations and unload or load their required number of individuals or cargos. These stations are given names based on their city or territory.
The oldest railway station was made by the Britishers and is situated in Liverpool. The history of railway stations along with railways dates back to almost two centuries ago. This means that railway stations can be regarded as one of the oldest mediums of transport.
Essential parts of a railway station may include a ticket machine, platform, parking space, and an overbridge. They are larger in size and consist of multiple platforms. The largest railway station is in New York and took nearly ten years to build completely.
Railway stations are interconnected through railway lines or tracks. In most countries, they are run by the government but few examples of privatized railway stations do exist.
Railway stations are also necessary for the economic class. As it gives various employment opportunities related to station maintenance. This can be the station cleaning department, stationeries and confectionaries as well as for the porters.
Difference Between Airport and Railway Station
- Airports are made for airplanes to take off or land while railway stations are made as a stoppage or leaving point for trains.
- Airports are opted by the higher strata whereas railway stations are meant for the lower strata
- Airports allow you to board international flights whereas railway stations are meant for nationwide travel
- Airports have a high level of security check whereas railway stations have a medium level of security check
- Airports are the modern way of transport whereas railway stations are in use since the 19th-century
Comparison Between Airport and Railway Station
| Parameters of comparison | Airport | Railway Station |
| Mode of transport | Airports are concerned with air transport | Railway stations are concerned with land transport |
| Ticket price | Ticket prices are ranged from average to expensive. Preferred by VIPs | Ticket prices are ranged from cheap to average. Preferred by the common man |
| History | The first airport can be dated back to 1907 | The First Railway station can be dated back to 1807 |
| Security level | Since most airports are designed for international flights, the security level is top-notch | Railway stations are made for interconnected travel within the country, therefore the security level is optimum |
| Medium of Vehicle | Airplanes, jets | Multiples types of trains |