THE IMPACTS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL RAILROADS ON RAIL LABOR IN NORTH DAKOTA

This report is a part of the North Dakota Rail Services Planning (RSP) Study, an integrated series of research projects designed to evaluate the impacts of local and regional carriers on rail transportation in North Dakota. The goal of this study is to evaluate the effects of line sales on rail labor in North Dakota. The primary research objectives are: (1) to formulate an approach for estimating the net long-run effects of line sales; (2) to project changes in rail jobs and workers' income streams in North Dakota, over time; and (3) to interpret the findings in light of the overall benefits and costs of short-line railroads. A set of models is formulated in the study which project: (1) the miles of Class I line in North Dakota that will be abandoned if not sold; (2) the number of Class I carrier employees affected by the abandonments; (3) the number of Class I carrier employees impacted by the sale of 2,000 miles of branch line; (4) the number of new regional or local railroad jobs created by the sales; and (5) the net change in rail income over time. All income streams, regardless of their timing, are translated into present dollars by discounting each flow. The major findings of the study are: (1) railroad employment in North Dakota is likely to stay the same or even increase marginally if light-density lines are sold prior to abandonment, and (2) total rail income is likely to decline by $13 million during the period 1987-1996. The reason for the net loss of income is that higher-paying BN and Soo Line jobs will be replaced with new rail jobs based on comparable local or regional wage scales.

• Record URL:
  https://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/details.php?id=220
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/60560
• Corporate Authors:

  North Dakota State University, Fargo

  1301 12th Avenue North
  Fargo, ND  United States  58105

  North Dakota State Highway Department

  State Highway Building, Capitol Grounds
  Bismarck, ND  United States  58505

  Federal Railroad Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Tolliver, D D
• Publication Date: 1989-11

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 38 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Abandonment; Benefits; Costs; Employee compensation; Employment; Impacts; Income; Jobs; Mathematical models; Railroad traffic; Railroads; Sales; Short line railroads; Traffic density
• Uncontrolled Terms: Class I railroads
• Old TRIS Terms: Light density lines; Projection
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Finance; Highways; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00493630
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: UGPTI Report No. 72
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Apr 30 1990 12:00AM