Economics of Commuter Rail Alternatives: Comparative Cost Perspective

Abstract

In the North American commuter rail environment, authorities planning to commence or expand service have several rolling stock options to evaluate. In the nonelectrified mixed-traffic operating environments that are prevalent outside the northeastern United States, locomotive-hauled vehicles—diesel-electric locomotives with head-end power units used in push-pull operation with single- or multiple-level coaches—have traditionally been the equipment of choice. With the imminent reemergence of a diesel multiple unit vehicle compliant with FRA standards for mixed traffic operation, the available equipment options have expanded. Authorities must be provided with the required information to evaluate and compare the costs and benefits of this newly available option. The true direct costs (excluding track access fees and insurance; justification for the exclusion of these issues is included) associated with the life cycle of rail vehicles are evaluated to provide transit authorities with the information required to make informed procurement decisions.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Sislak

Economics of Diesel Multiple Unit Operations. In Proc., 1996 Rapid Transit Conference of the American Public Transit Association, American Public Transit Association, Washington, D.C., 1996, pp. 81–87.

Jacobs

, and Galbraith

. A Comparison of the Operating and Maintenance Costs of DMU and Locomotive-Hauled Equipment for the MBTA. In Proc., 1997 Rapid Transit Conference of the American Public Transit Association, Volume 2: Rolling Stock and Modal. American Public Transit Association, Washington, D.C., 1997, pp. 157–166.

Rader

Economics of FRA-Compliant Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs). Presented at the American Public Transit Association Rail Transit Conference, San Jose, Calif., May 2003.

Heavy Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Service Technicians and Mechanics. In Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Department of Labor website. www.dol.gov.