FREIGHT RAILROADS MUST SEEK PUBLIC FUNDING

This paper examines the present and future methods of funding railway infrastructure. A case will be made that the future growth and well being of the freight rail industry depends upon increased public funding. Data from the past pointing to the difficulty freight railroads have had earning their capital, a key financial benchmark, is examined first. Even though the past strategies employed to solve the problems have had success, the net result was only a slight improvement because revenue growth did not keep pace with the economy. Also examined is the status of the industry today. The current level of capital expenditures is shown to be inadequate to provide for the needed improvement to improve rail service and to permit the industry to reach its full potential. Also noted is a key difference in how competitors pay for infrastructure: the use of public Funding.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/31144651
• Corporate Authors:

  Association for Transportation Law, Logistics and Policy

  PMB 250
  3 Church Cir.
  Annapolis, MD  United States  21401-1933
• Authors:
  • Staplin, D E
• Publication Date: 2003-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 125-136
• Serial:
  • Journal of Transportation Law, Logistics and Policy
  • Volume: 70
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Association for Transportation Law, Logistics and Policy
  • ISSN: 1078-5906
  • Serial URL: http://www.atlp.org/journal.html

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Capital costs; Financing; Freight transportation; Improvements; Infrastructure; Investments; Public participation; Railroads; Revenues
• Subject Areas: Economics; Finance; Freight Transportation; Railroads; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00941945
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 4 2003 12:00AM