SOME THOUGHTS ON THE RELIABILITY OF RAILROADING

The paper considers the problem of how to set the standards of rail service at levels which offer the best compromise between meeting the shippers' need s and keeping rail costs at economical levels. So far as the shipper is concerned it supports the view that the most practical approach is to carry out joint research into the total distribution cost and the effect of the quality of rail service upon it. So far as the railway is concerned, it considers the alternatives of scheduling the fastest possible service and of publishing a more conservative timetable at which there is sufficient margin to make up time after delays. It views the shippers' holding of inventories to guard against stock-out situations and the railroads' holding of more than minimal power and other investments to improve reliability as uses of capital for a common purpose. It describes some of the routines for assessing the optimal combinations of service for the railroad to offer.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Forum

  Brown Palace Hotel
  Denver, CO  United States 
• Authors:
  • Detmold, P J
• Publication Date: 1972

Media Info

• Serial:
  • Volume: 13
  • Issue Number: 1

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Freight service; Quality of service; Reliability
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00047954
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 13 1974 12:00AM