THE ECONOMIC BALANCE OF COSTS/BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC--ACCOUNTS AND ACCOUNTABILITY SEPARATED

Characteristic of almost all railways of the western world in a free market economy and thereby also free choice of the means of transport, is their strained financial situation. The actual expenditures of the railways in some cases considerably exceed the proceeds. The deficit of the railways is normally balanced by subsidies from the public purse. The railways therefore burden the individual economic systems by an apparently irresistibly financial demand. The question therefore obtrudes itself, whether the railway system has been overtaken by other transport technologies and on account of the economic situation of the individual railway administrations had not better be abandoned. In the course of this investigation it is demonstrated on the example of the German Federal Railway, that the railways in spite of a large financial need are "profitable" for the economy and definitely have a benefit for the whole national economy.

• Corporate Authors:

  International Railway Congress Association

  17-21 rue de Louvrain
  1000 Brussels,   Belgium 
• Authors:
  • Groeben, H J
• Publication Date: 1984-2

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 5-21
• Serial:
  • RAIL INTERNATIONAL
  • Volume: 15
  • Issue Number: 2

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Deficits; Railroad commuter service; Railroads; Social benefits; Subsidies
• Identifier Terms: Deutsche Bahn; Deutsche Bundesbahn
• Subject Areas: Finance; Public Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00386238
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: British Railways
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 28 1984 12:00AM