Grain Transportation in the Great Plains Region in a Post-Rationalization Environment, Volume I: Railroad Rationalization: Efficiency Gains and Impacts in Grain Producing Regions

Railroad and grain elevator rationalization have changed farm-to-market transportation in the western United States. Railroad route miles have declined from approximately 230,00 in 1929 to 171,000 today. Over the same period, average railroad traffic density (as measured in revenue ton-miles per mile of road) has increased from 1.95 million to 14.42 million. The concentration of railroad traffic on mainline routes has resulted in significant economies of scale or utilization and lower real freight rates. However, fewer elevators exist today. As a result, farmers are facing longer delivery trips than ever before.

• Record URL:
  https://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/details.php?id=544
• Corporate Authors:

  Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute

  North Dakota State University
  1320 Albrecht Boulevard
  Fargo, ND  United States  581052

  Department of Transportation

  Bureau of Transportation Statistics
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Department of Agriculture

  1400 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20250
• Authors:
  • Tolliver, Denver
  • Bitzan, John
• Publication Date: 2005-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 30p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Abandonment; Economic impacts; Freight transportation; Grain; Railroad traffic; Railroad transportation
• Geographic Terms: Great Plains
• Subject Areas: Economics; Freight Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01681529
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DP-170
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 21 2018 3:59PM