Railroad Investment in Track Infrastructure

A model of investment in basic track components is estimated from 1985-2008 data for Class I railroads. Network size is measured in miles of road (MOR), while traffic is measured in revenue gross ton-miles (RGTM). In addition to MOR and RGTM, the model includes railroad indicator and time variables. The purpose of the railroad variables is to capture fixed effects (e.g., effects other than traffic and network size) that are specific to particular railroads, but which do not change over time. The time variable, on the other hand, accounts for industry-wide trends and changes that occur during the period. The study shows that when miles of road are held constant (a realistic scenario), a 100% increase in RGTM results in a 50% increase in track investment. However, it is important to consider the interpretative context described in the paper. Several data anomalies were discovered and handled statistically. The parameter estimates vary somewhat with the index used to convert nominal dollars to constant dollars.

• Record URL:
  https://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/details.php?id=921
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Mountain-Plains Consortium

  North Dakota State University
  Fargo, ND  United States  58108

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Tolliver, Denver
  • Lu, Pan
  • Benson, Doug
• Publication Date: 2018-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 43p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Investments; Maintenance of way; Railroad tracks; Railroads; Statistical analysis; Ton miles; Trend (Statistics)
• Subject Areas: Economics; Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01684230
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: MPC 18-365
• Contract Numbers: MPC-357
• Files: UTC, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 25 2018 5:13PM