NTL Record

Title Analysis of Railroad Track Maintenance Expenditures for Class I Railroads 1962-1977
Record ID 49231
Personal Name
Creator
Tyworth, J. E.; Reinschmidt, A. J.; Koot, R. S.; Spychalski, J. C.
Source 146p. in various pagings
Corporate Creator Pennsylvania State University
Corporate
Contributor
John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.); United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration
Publisher United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration
Publication Date 19820201
Language English
Abstract This study investigates the decision-making process for railroad track maintenance (T/M) expenditures. The objectives are to (1) describe how Federal track safety standards have influenced this process and (2) try to predict the impact of changes in safety regulations on T/M spending for all U.S. Class I railroads on selected groups of railroads. A related objective of this study was to use publicly available data to build models of track-related accidents and train speeds. The approach used in this research included a literature search, field interviews, hypotheses testing through models and case analysis, and multivariate analysis of time series data in cross sections. The scope of the study was limited to the Class I railroads operating in 1978 and from 1962 to 1977. The results suggest that imposition of FRA standards has had the predicted impacts on both T/M spending and on train speeds. Since the standards were imposed, railway revenues for T/M have increased. In addition, the standards appear to have had a negative influence on average train speeds, though they have not effected a reduction in track-related accidents.
Rosap ID dot:10696
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/10696
TRT Terms Maintenance; Railroad tracks; Costs; Analysis; Crash investigation; Decision making; Mathematical models; Multivariate analysis; Standards
General Subjects Cost analysis
Classification AGR - INFRASTRUCTURE - Railroads;
NTL - ECONOMICS AND FINANCE - ECONOMICS AND FINANCE;
NTL - ECONOMICS AND FINANCE - Rail Economics and Finance;
NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - Rail Planning and Policy;
NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - Rail Economics and Finance;
NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - RAIL TRANSPORTATION
Geographical
Coverage
United States
Contract Number DOT-TSC-1675; RR219/R2309
Report Number DOT-TSC-FRA-81-20; FRA/ORD-82/07
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/49000/49200/49231/DOT-TSC-FRA-81-20.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository