Originally published in 1980, and translated from French in this 1984 Cambridge version, this book is a systems analysis of the worldwide railway network. The work first refers to the principles of railway operations, the theory of systems, and railway technology. Two chapters are then devoted to production and sales, and they analyse the operational and economic aspects. Railway management and decision-making is then examined. Finally, the author describes the international aspects of railway operations, sets out a theory of macrosystems at the world level, and speculates on avenues for railway development.