SHORT LINE RAILWAYS

The major Canadian railways have been abandoning lines in many parts of the country to improve efficiency and profitability. An alternative to line abandonment, which can have adverse effects on communities, is the establishment of short line railway companies. This paper begins with a review of line abandonment in Canada and the major railways' attitudes to short line railways. It also outlines the advantage of preserving railway lines by means of short line railways, both from the point of view of railway users and the railways themselves. The paper then discusses various problems associated with conversion to short line railways, including economic viability, labor relations, and the regulatory process. The paper ends with case studies of short line conversions and a review of federal and Ontario initiatives with respect to short line railways.

• Corporate Authors:

  Ontario Ministry of Government Services

  Legislative Research Service
  Toronto, Ontario M7A 1N8,   Canada 
• Authors:
  • RICHMOND, J
• Publication Date: 1995

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 31 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Abandonment; Economic efficiency; Improvements; Profitability; Short line railroads
• Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00729943
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 31 1997 12:00AM