RAILROAD COSTS REVISITED - ARE CLASS I RAILROADS NATURAL MONOPOLIES?

In examining the cost conditions in the railroad industry, the study finds that railroads are natural monopolies over current networks. That is, duplicate networks serving the same railroad markets would result in increased industry costs. In examining the potential cost effects of end-to-end mergers, the study finds that there is evidence to suggest that Class I railroads are natural monopolies up to the current size of U.S. railroad networks.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Forum

  11250-8 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 8
  Reston, VA  United States  20190
• Authors:
  • Bitzan, John
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Forum, 39th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Montreal, Canada
  • Date: 1997-10-16 to 1997-10-18
• Publication Date: 1997-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 33-57
• Serial:
  • Volume: 1

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Mergers; Monopoly; Networks; Railroads
• Uncontrolled Terms: Class I railroads
• Subject Areas: Economics; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00766597
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 22 1999 12:00AM