In this work, we consider the integrated problem of locomotive scheduling and driver assignment in rail freight companies. Our aim is to compute an optimal simultaneous assignment of locomotives and drivers to the trains listed in a given order-book. Mathematically, this leads to the combination...

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to compare the competition and productivity of the US freight rail transportation industry for the past 41 years (1980 ∼ 2020), which consists of the two periods, before and after the abolishment of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) in 1995....

This paper delves into the developmental trajectory and future prospects of China Railway (CR) Express, a containerized railway freight service between the People's Republic of China (the PRC) and Europe, and examines the associated infrastructure investment needs for enhancing Eurasian freight...

How to protect "captive shippers" from monopolistic abuses by a railway? In an "open access" system, it's straightforward: provide infrastructure access to a competing train operating company. In a system without open access - as in, for example, the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil -...

As rail represents an efficient and sustainable transport system, the Trans-European railway network has become subject to special attention from European transport policy. The political objectives are to shift 30 % of freight to rail by 2030, 50 % by 2050, and to reduce passenger trips on road...

We measure the impact of low cost transport by rail in Malawi on the dispersion of agricultural commodities prices across markets, by exploiting the quasi experimental design of the nearly total collapse of domestic transport by rail in January 2003, due to the destruction of a railway bridge at...

Purpose: Increasing demand for freight transport is in direct contrast to climate policy goals. Rail freight can reduce overall emissions if it builds up more market share. To achieve this, the rail sector needs to increase its competitiveness with other modes of transport using digitalization....

In response to concerns about the lack of competition and the resulting high rail rates, the Biden administration has proposed mandating reciprocal switching, which provides shippers access to competing railroads. The administration also has advocated for final offer rate review as an affordable...

To address the need for a better understanding of cooperation, coordination and competition among transportation modes identified by various research studies, this paper sets out to analyze port-railroad relations of cooperation and coordination in the Brazilian case and the possible existence...

Contemporary observers viewed the recession that began in the summer of 1929 as nothing extraordinary. Recent analyses have shown that the subsequent large deflation was econometrically forecastable, implying that a driving force in the depression was the high expected real interest rates faced...

Rail freight has exhibited significant growth within the last decade between Asia and Europe, especially after the announcement of China’s Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, which consists of seaborne and land routes. Within the latter one, this paper focuses on the railroad network that...

Twenty years of debate regarding the restructuring of the Chinese freight railway have failed to yield a consensus. Early policy statements favoring the creation of above-the-rail competition over a monopoly infrastructure – the "European" model of rail restructuring – have broadened into a...

Der Schienengüterverkehr ist im Hinblick auf den Klimaschutz zu einem Hoffnungsträger für mehr Nachhaltigkeit im Verkehrssektor geworden. Für die Transportverlagerung von Gütern auf die Schiene ist es notwendig, die Einsatzmöglichkeiten dieses Verkehrsträgers zu erweitern. Dabei stellen...

The European Commission years ago adopted a policy of encouraging the substitution of motor carrier haulage of freight with rail and water carrier haulage, as part of its “green” agenda of reducing fuel consumption, emission of pollutants, carbon intensity, and road congestion. Regarding...

This paper compacts with the notion of the relevance of railway transportation in the Nigerian economy. Assessments, Issues, challenges and operational rail-line in Nigeria. Specifically, the impact of railway in Lagos (Rail Mass Transit) The study also highlighted factors that may affect or...