MAKING AN ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF RAILROAD ELECTRIFICATION

While there have been rules of thumb to judge the economics of an electrification project, a computer program has been developed which takes into account 20 factors essential in such appraisal. Answers are expressed on a present net worth basis and the point in time at which economies of electrification offset its higher net cost. The paper devotes attention to factors which are most difficult to assess--capital investment in motive power and operating costs, the cost of right-of-way installations and their maintenance costs. The computer printout indicates costs for each year over a 30-year period and can be up-dated with the insertion of revised information.

• Corporate Authors:

  Railway Systems and Management Association

  181 East Lake Shore Drive
  Chicago, IL  United States  60611
• Authors:
  • Foley, E P
• Publication Date: 1974

Media Info

• Pagination: p. A46-A63
• Serial:
  • Railway Management Review
  • Volume: 74
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Railway Systems and Management Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Capital investments; Computer programs; Economic analysis; Electric locomotives; Horsepower; Information processing; Planning; Railroad electrification; Return on investment
• Old TRIS Terms: Computerized planning; Motive power
• Subject Areas: Economics; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00072944
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 16 1975 12:00AM