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A Preliminary Investigation of Private Railcars in North America

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  • Corsi, Thomas M.
  • Casavant, Ken
  • Graciano, Tim A.

Abstract

This paper analyzes the economic conditions of a dramatic change in railcar ownership over the last 10 years. Private railcar ownership has increased to the point where they now carry 54% of ton-miles and 56% of tonnage for all railroads. Despite the increasing reliance on private railcars, returns to railcar ownership are decreasing, with current rates of return falling below those necessary to fund future investment. The problem is further exacerbated by shifting costs from railroad to shipper. A large drop in private investment could pose a serious threat to the railroad industry, shippers, and the economy as a whole.

Suggested Citation

  • Corsi, Thomas M. & Casavant, Ken & Graciano, Tim A., 2012. "A Preliminary Investigation of Private Railcars in North America," Journal of the Transportation Research Forum, Transportation Research Forum, vol. 51(1).
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:ndjtrf:207306
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.207306
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    File URL: https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/207306/files/2811-5551-1-PB.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bitzan, John & Tolliver, Denver, 2003. "The Impacts of an Industry Switch to Large Rail Grain Hopper Cars on Local Infrastructure: A Case Study of North Dakota," Journal of the Transportation Research Forum, Transportation Research Forum, vol. 42(2).
    2. Bortko, Daniel C. & Babcock, Michael W. & Barkley, Andrew P., 1995. "Where Have All The Jumbo Covered Hopper Cars Gone? An Investment Analysis of the U.S. Rail Grain Car Fleet," Journal of the Transportation Research Forum, Transportation Research Forum, vol. 35(1).
    3. Prato, Anthony A. & Osborn, James E. & Shane, Ronald L. & Meyers, Gordon & Clevenger, Tom & Casavant, Kenneth L. & Vaux, Henry J., Jr., 1987. "In The West," Choices: The Magazine of Food, Farm, and Resource Issues, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 2(2), pages 1-2.
    4. Babcock, Michael W. & Sanderson, James, 2006. "Should shortline railroads upgrade their systems to handle heavy axle load cars?," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 149-166, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Florian Jaehn & Alena Otto & Kilian Seifried, 2018. "Shunting operations at flat yards: retrieving freight railcars from storage tracks," OR Spectrum: Quantitative Approaches in Management, Springer;Gesellschaft für Operations Research e.V., vol. 40(2), pages 367-393, March.

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    Public Economics;

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