THE EFFECTS OF FIXED PLANT AND ROLLING STOCK TECHNOLOGY ON RAILROAD TRACK COSTS

Due to advances in railroad track technology from 1970-2000, U.S. Class 1 Railroad mainline steady-state track costs declined from 20-67%, depending on traffic density. Four main factors governed these track cost productivity improvements: economies of traffic density, technological innovations, network rationalization, and equipment productivity. Disentangling the effects of each of these 4 phenomena presents a difficult challenge, as the effects of technology change are not readily apparent in the historical records. This research employed engineering-based computer modeling techniques in order to attain a more reliable conclusion as to the effects of technology on railroad track costs.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Full conference available on CD-ROM.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association

  10003 Derekwood Lane, Suite 210
  Lanham, MD  United States  20706
• Authors:
  • Chapman, J D
  • Martland, C D
• Conference:
  • 1998 AREMA Track and Structures Conference
  • Location: Chicago, Illinois
  • Date: 1998-9-14 to 1998-9-16
• Publication Date: 1998

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 34p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computer models; Conferences; Costs; Maintenance of way; Rail (Railroads); Railroad engineering; Railroad tracks; Railroad traffic; Railroad transportation; Technological innovations
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Finance; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00796033
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 19 2000 12:00AM