Abstract During the 1950s, the share of freight carried by railroads was similar and declining in both the United States and Europe. By 2000, the railroads’ share of freight (measured in ton–kilometers) had reached 38% in the United States while falling to 8% in Europe. This paper examines the reasons for the difference in rail’s share of freight in Europe and the United States. We find that almost 83% of the gap in 2000 is probably due to natural or inherent differences, principally geography, shipment distance, and commodity mix. However, 17% of the gap cannot be explained by these inherent differences and is presumably due to public policies including priority of passenger service, lack of interoperability at borders, service quality and rates, and incentives of the rail operators. We estimate that if that policy gap were closed, railroads’ share of freight in Europe would increase from 8% to 13%.


    Access

    Download

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Nature or nurture: why do railroads carry greater freight share in the United States than in Europe?


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2006




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Classification :

    BKL:    55.80$jVerkehrswesen$jTransportwesen: Allgemeines / 55.80 Verkehrswesen, Transportwesen: Allgemeines / 74.75$jVerkehrsplanung$jVerkehrspolitik / 74.75 Verkehrsplanung, Verkehrspolitik




    Nature or nurture:why do railroads carry greater freight share in the United States than in Europe?

    Vassallo, J.M. / Fagan, M. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2007


    Railroads carry-on

    Dunn, S.O. | Engineering Index Backfile | 1942


    Freight house railroads

    Engineering Index Backfile | 1894


    Freight rates of railroads

    Engineering Index Backfile | 1894