Allegations of Rail Freight Rate Disparities in the Canadian Prairie Provinces Since the 1967 National Transportation Act

This paper describes how rail freight rates and allegations of freight rate disparities have been a matter of public concern in the Prairie Provisions of Canada for almost one hundred years and it continues to be an important area of debate in transport. There is a general recognition that, in order to be viable enterprises, the railways must obtain revenues to cover their expenses, including a return on capital. However, allegations have been made over the years to the effect that these revenues are raised through a freight rate structure which imposes unduly heavy burdens on the Prairie Provinces. The freight rate complaints of the Prairie Provinces are essentially of two types, complaints in respect of specific freight rate situations and allegations that the overall rate structure militates against the Prairie Provinces. This paper briefly reviews allegations in respect of specific disparities and then attempts, in a preliminary way, to comment on the allegations of general disparities.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Forum

  P.O. Box 5074
  Fargo, ND  United States  58105
• Authors:
  • Heads, John
• Publication Date: 1977

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Edition: Volume XVIII, Number 1
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 379-386
• Monograph Title: Transportation in Transition. Proceedings of the Eighteenth Annual Meeting

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Freight service; Freight trains; Freight transportation; Operating revenues; Railroad transportation; Rate of return; Rates; Revenues
• Uncontrolled Terms: Freight rates
• Geographic Terms: Canada
• Subject Areas: Economics; Finance; Freight Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01105335
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 30 2008 8:10AM