APPALACHIA RAILROAD BRANCHLINE CONDITION/ABANDONMENT STUDY

Rail branchlines in the 13-state area of the Appalachian Regional commission (ARC) vary in traffic carried and therefore in relative profitability. Maintenance is deferred on certain of the less profitable lines which are still important to local economies and could be preserved by appropriate public action. Recommendations were prepared regarding possible ARC roles in this matter. Factors considered included Regional rail demand and commodities carried; the maintenance posture of Regional branchlines (including a physical inspection and individual study of 14 sample lines) and examination of the impact of unit coal train operations on Regional branchline operations. The cost of upgrading Regional branchlines to FRA Class 2 standards (25 mph) was also estimated. The feasibility of improving marginal rail branchlines to FRA Class 2 standards was also examined, based on a sample of such lines. Existing rail assistance programs were also evaluated.

• Corporate Authors:

  Smith (Wilbur) and Associates

  4500 Jackson Avenue
  Columbia, SC  United States  29203

  Appalachian Regional Commission

  1666 Connecticut Avenue, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20235
• Authors:
  • Zuelsdorf, R
  • McIlwain, B
  • WHITE, J
• Publication Date: 1980-11

Media Info

• Pagination: 235 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Abandonment; Analysis; Branch lines; Costs; Deferred maintenance; Forecasting; Freight traffic; Freight transportation; Government funding; Maintenance management; Maintenance of way; Profitability; Railroad transportation; Railroads; Rehabilitation (Maintenance); Subsidies; Traffic density; Traffic forecasting; Unit trains
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cost analysis
• Geographic Terms: Appalachia
• Old TRIS Terms: Cargo transportation; Renovating
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Finance; Freight Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00336054
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: ARC-78-191/SC-6524 Final Rpt.
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 21 1981 12:00AM