CONTROLLING OPERATING COSTS OF REGIONAL RAIL SYSTEMS IN THE UNITED STATES

This paper discusses several strategies, developed by regional rail systems in the USA to respond to pressures to increase their cost- recovery ratio; it also indicates where significant advances can be made. Both emerging and well-established regional rail systems face increasingly high operating costs, which threaten their survival. To achieve long-term viability, these systems must establish an environment where they can control their costs and be as self- sufficient as possible. There are three critical areas, where they are increasing their ability to control operating costs. A flexible contractual strategy is needed, whose keys are ownership of the railway right of way and appropriate trade union agreements. Optimising contractual strategy requires the appropriate addressing of responsibilities for administration and primary and secondary operations. Effective management of assets is needed, through continuously updated lists of assets and their condition, and adequate capital and maintenance programmes. All railway operations should attempt to take advantage of new technology, including advances in electronics, data transmission, and metallurgy, and designed to meet future maintenance requirements. For the covering abstract see IRRD 870276.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0860502740
• Corporate Authors:

  PTRC Education and Research Services Limited

  Glenthorne House, Hammersmith Grove
  London W6OL9,   England 
• Authors:
  • HOFFMAN, G M
• Conference:
  • RAIL. PROCEEDINGS OF SEMINAR M HELD AT THE 22ND PTRC EUROPEAN TRANSPORT FORUM, UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK, ENGLAND FROM 12-16 SEPTEMBER, 1994, VOLUME P384
• Publication Date: 1994-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 145-51

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Administration; Conferences; Costs; Income; Operating costs; Policy; Public transit; Railroad transportation; Technology; Transportation operations
• Geographic Terms: United States
• ITRD Terms: 155: Administration; 8525: Conference; 224: Cost; 256: Income; 221: Operating costs; 1144: Operations (transp network); 173: Policy; 744: Public transport; 1173: Rail bound transport; 3855: Technology; 8122: USA
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Finance; Policy; Public Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00681162
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• ISBN: 0-86050-274-0
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Jul 20 1995 12:00AM