THE OPTIMUM SPEED OF A COAL UNIT TRAIN

The average speed at which a unit coal train operates is of economic interest to many--shipper, railroad and equipment owner. The average speed is normally set by exogenous forces exerted on the railroad such as competitive modes or shipper demands. Speed may also be set by internal forces such as short-term profit expedience and, quite often, from poor accounting which does not allow cost to accurately match revenues. This report establishes the principle that there is an optimum speed for unit trains and that speed can be calculated.

• Corporate Authors:

  Planning and Forecasting Consultants

  863 Frostwood
  Houston, TX  United States  77024
• Authors:
  • Steffes, D W
• Publication Date: 1976-2

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 12 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accounting; Car utilization (Railroads); Coal; Coal industry; Economic analysis; Freight traffic; Hopper cars; Maintenance management; Unit trains
• Uncontrolled Terms: Maintenance costs
• Old TRIS Terms: Operating strategies
• Subject Areas: Economics; Finance; Freight Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00131651
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Planning and Forecasting Consultants
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 3 1976 12:00AM