ECONOMIC SYNERGISM IN RAILROAD ELECTRIFICATION

Railroad electrification has been generally accepted as the optimum method of propulsion for trunk lines in most developed nations of the world, except for North America. But in North America repeated studies have shown above-average rates of return on investment, greater efficiency, and faster operation. In this paper the possible reasons for North America's failure to develop railroad electrification, the advantages and disadvantages of electrification, and possible means for obtaining the benefits of electrification in North America are addressed. Because electrification requires a major increase in investment, synergism may be necessary to render electrification economically practical. Low-rated bulk commodities in volume can move more economically with electric power, but not always sufficiently so to induce private capital to make the effort or to take risk. Other nations provide government funding to gain the substantial benefits of electrification. High-rated competitive movements seldom go by rail today, but they more likely would if the speed and economy made possible by electrification were made available to users. If high-rated goods were moved by rail, the added volume would reduce the unit costs of fixed expense, thereby reversing the downward slide of carloadings, which provokes rate increases, causes lower traffic volumes, results in reduced service, and repeats the downward cycle. In addition to freight, passengers, mail, and express also have profit potential under electric operations and offer the opportunity to make the total railroad operation more cost effective and useful than a single-purpose bulk commodity facility.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1984/953/953-009.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=ECONOMIC+SYNERGISM+IN+RAILROAD+ELECTRIFICATION&author=E.+TENNYSON&publication_year=1984
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309036739
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Rail Electrification Systems. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • TENNYSON, E L
• Conference:
  • 63rd Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1984-1-16 to 1984-1-20
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 47-51
• Monograph Title: Rail papers - 1984
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 953
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Feasibility analysis; Financial capital; Freight traffic; Modal split; Operating costs; Passenger transportation; Productivity; Railroad electrification; Return on investment
• Subject Areas: Design; Economics; Freight Transportation; Highways; Passenger Transportation; Railroads; Society; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00391338
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309036739
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Mar 29 1985 12:00AM