FINANCING RAILROAD ELECTRIFICATION

Conventional financing will not work for railroad electrification because of the general lack of borrowing power of the industry. In the face of an ever-deepening morass of railroad liquidation, the U.S. government represents even a difficult source of capital. The author sees the evolution of a two-tier industry--the financially viable and the perpetually bankrupt. Requlatory restriction can tend to swell the latter group, stiffling electrification and other worthwhile capital projects. In the private sector, the author urges consideration of possible financing by users of freight service, utilities and/or manufacturers of the components used in electrification. A rationalized U.S. rail plant would be important in any U.S. electrification.

• Corporate Authors:

  Railway Systems and Management Association

  181 East Lake Shore Drive
  Chicago, IL  United States  60611
• Authors:
  • Hampton, R N
• Publication Date: 1974

Media Info

• Pagination: p. A78-A81
• Serial:
  • Railway Management Review
  • Volume: 74
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Railway Systems and Management Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Capital investments; Financing; Policy; Railroad electrification; Return on investment
• Old TRIS Terms: Government policies
• Subject Areas: Policy; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00072942
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 16 1975 12:00AM