Road/rail container transfer facilities - minimising total system costs - a research proposal

Rail transport in Australia accounted for approximately 33 percent of total nett tonne kilometres in 1988/89. During the last forty years, rail has experienced losses in its share of interstate freight movements to the extent that on the eastern seaboard corridors (Adelaide - Melbourne - Sydney - Brisbane), rail accounts for between 20 percent and 25 percent of nett tonne-kilometres. In 1988/89, just over 9 million nett tonnes of interstate freight was carried by rail, with container traffic making up 54 percent of the total. The movement of containers by rail has seen a marked increase over the last five years, with a dramatic rise in containers handled at Adelaide, one of the five major rail terminals in Australia. In 1989/90, some 0.5 million individual containers were handled by rail systems in Australia. Each of the five rail systems manage and operate intermodal terminals. The newly created National Rail Corporation (NRC) is due to take over as the single entity marketing and operating interstate freight. The NRC has the potential to increase rail's market share of the interstate freight market through improved customer service and reduced operating costs. The interface point between road rail and intermodal freight terminals (IFT's) are critical elements in the total freight distribution chain. This research proposal addresses the twin objectives of reducing freight transport costs and improving customer service, by examining the major determinants of performance of IFTs, customer service requirements and the financial performance issues.

• Authors:
  • Ferreira, L
• Publication Date: 1991-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 11p
• Serial:
  • Issue Number: 91-8

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Containers; Economics; Freight transportation; Highway transportation; Level of service; Marketing; Operating costs; Railroad transportation; Transportation modes
• Uncontrolled Terms: Transport costs
• ATRI Terms: Freight container; Freight transport; Marketing; Operating costs; Rail transport; Road transport; Transport costs; Transport economics; Transport facilities; Transport mode; Transport performance
• Subject Areas: Economics; Freight Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01432700
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 24 2012 5:10PM