ABSTRACTThis study was designed to suggest and evaluate empirically a series of variables to explain the behavior of two important rail transport system performance parameters: speed and reliability of transit time. Variables related to the carriers, the economic situation, the location and the nature of the shipper/carrier interaction were tested using a combination of factor analysis and regression analysis. The results support the premise that while distance is very important in explaining rail service, other variables also contribute substantially to understanding transit time by this transport mode.
New investments in urban rail transport, both in Europe and North America, have been widely discussed in the transport policy literature, especially in the context of the relative success of individual projects. Recent experience in developed countries has seen something of a revival of urban light rail infrastructure, mainly because of its lower cost relative to full underground metro rail. Among the issues raised are firstly, what are the impacts of new urban rail infrastructure on potential corridors of economic development along the new routes; and secondly, whether the access gains offered by urban rail mean that private sector contributions can partly be used to finance them. This paper reports on further progress on internationally funded comparative research first discussed at previous ERSA Conferences. It reports evidence (based on site visits) on the economic development impacts of new urban light rail. Visits to a number of light rail systems in Britain and France (with other countries planned this year) provide sharp contrasts in the economic development impacts of this form of urban infrastructure, as well as in the transport policy strategies that lie behind the various projects. The Federal Government's financial involvement in urban rail projects in the US has provided yet more contrasting examples from a highly car-oriented economy. Among the findings are that urban light rail, which has often been seen as equivalent to `bus protected from congestion', generates economic development impacts most visibly in non-residential or immature areas of cities. Fully built-up residential sections of cities often simply absorb the new service with little visible change. There may however be less visible change, even in the short term, evident in local housing markets which may advertise access to tram as a property advantage. The French cities offer the most spectacular examples of light rail being used as a `public sector access mode', specifically with reference to hospitals and university campuses. These can provide a substantial `instant market', so that even new tram systems (such as Montpellier) may be operating at capacity within a few years of opening. This contrasts sharply with cases where light rail is routed through vacant or semi-derelict areas, in the expectation (or hope) of private sector investment being generated. The 25 new urban light rail projects (not all new cities) currently proposed in Britain means that this research field is of particular policy relevance there.
ABSTRACTRailroads represent one of the most efficient methods of long‐haul transport for bulk commodities, from coal to agricultural products. Over the past 50 years, the rail network has contracted while tonnage has increased. Service, geographically, has been abandoned along short‐haul routes and increased along major long‐haul routes, resulting in a network that is more streamlined. The current rail network may be very vulnerable to disruptions, like the failure of a trestle. This paper proposes a framework to model rail network vulnerability and gives an application of this modeling framework in analyzing rail network vulnerability for the State of Washington. It concludes with a number of policy‐related issues that need to be addressed in order to identify, plan, and mitigate the risks associated with the sudden loss of a bridge or trestle.
First published in 1999, this book contains case studies of rail transport policy-making in two UK Passenger Transport Authority areas and reviews the factors informing such policy-making. It contributes to transport geography by explaining why the actual policies implemented in Starthclyde and Merseyside were pursued, and to the continuing development of the political science theory of 'the urban policy regime' by analysing the differences in policy development attributable to the different 'city-regional' (Strathclyde) and 'public choice' (Merseyside) geographical structures of local governance. The book demonstrates that these differences in the spatial organisation of local institutions play a powerful role in determining the operation of the local 'regime' of policy-makers, the form of final policy outputs, and the level of public accountability achieved.
Kurzfassung H. Maarof: "Eisenbahnvertrieb bzw. -marketing" Viele Länder erkannten die Bedeutung des Eisenbahntransports. Sie planten mit wissenschaftlichen Methoden, den zunehmenden Bedürfnissen unter Berücksichtigung der vorhandenen Möglichkeiten zu begegnen. In Entwicklungsländern wie Syrien besteht ein ständiger Bedarf an Institutionen mit höheren Planungsaufgaben des Eisenbahntransports. Diese haben die Aufgabe, die vorherrschenden Probleme des Eisenbahntransports wissenschaftlich zu analysieren und zu lösen, insbesondere die Marketing-Probleme. Während viele andere Länder eine wahre Revolution im Bereich des Eisenbahntransports erleben, ist der Eisenbahntransport in Syrien unfähig, zur Entwicklung der Volkswirtschaft aktiv beizutragen, und liegt besonders bei den Fahrgastzahlen unter dem gewünschten Niveau. Das verschafft ihr eine schlechte Ausgangslage im Vergleich zu konkurrierenden Landtransportmitteln und dem Luftverkehr. Der Wert dieser Forschung hebt sich dadurch hervor, dass sie einen wichtigen Sektor der Syrischen Volkswirtschaft betrachtet, über den bisher nur unausreichende Studien erschienen, und der die Aufmerksamkeit der Forscher in der Vergangenheit nicht anzog. Sie stellt ein reales Bild über den Zustand des Eisenbahntransports in Syrien dar. Sie beinhaltet eine Erklärung des Service-Konzepts, ihrer Eigenschaften und des Wertes der Verwendung eines speziellen Marketing-Mix, der zur Entwicklung des Eisenbahntransports beiträgt. Zudem werden die Marketing-Politik der Deutschen Bahn und ihre Nutzungsmöglichkeiten für die Syrische Eisenbahn untersucht. In dieser Studie werden zwei grundlegende Verfahrensweisen verfolgt, die analytisch beschreibende und die statistisch übersichtliche Verfahrensweise. Wir verwendeten die analytische beschreibende Verfahrenweise durch eine Darstellung der Realität des Bahntransports in Syrien, Analyse der Daten und Errechnung von Prozenten und Parametern, sowie die Analyse einiger Daten der Deutschen Bahn. Für die statistisch übersichtliche Verfahrenweise wurde eine Umfrage von 400 Angestellten der syrischen Eisenbahn durchgeführt, sowie einige persönliche Interviews mit Managern einiger Abteilungen und Passagieren. Nach der Analyse der Marketing-Probleme der Syrischen Eisenbahn und ihren Behandlungsverfahren, und der Untersuchung in der Vertriebspolitik der Deutschen Bahn und ihrer Nutzungsmöglichkeiten für die Syrische Eisenbahn, kann festgehalten werden, dass der Erfolg der Marketing-Politiken von dem technischen Zustand der Eisenbahnanlagen, der Kommunikationssysteme, der Kontrollen, der Züge, der Waggons, der Bahnhöfe und des Schienennetzes abhängt. ; Summary H. Maarof: "Marketing activities in the rail transport industry " In many countries, the importance of the rail transport industry is increasing, and scientific methods are applied to increase the output and service quality of the rail industry. Furthermore, developing countries such as Syria need to redesign their institutional framework in order to be prepared for the future challenges in the rail sector. Hence, these institutions must be redesigned such that they can analyze the rail industry scientifically and find adequate ways to deal with these future challenges. One important element of a future strategy for rail service providers in developing countries is to improve their marketing activities. The success of optimized marketing activities can be observed in different countries. In Syria, marketing activities do not seem to be so successful and, for this reason, a great potential to improve the performance of rail service providers in this country by new and more intense marketing activities exists. These activities can also be useful to enhance the competitive position of rail service providers against the transport service providers in the road and air transport sector. The contribution of the research provided in this thesis is to consider an important part of the Syrian industry that has not garnered much attention from other economists so far. Furthermore, this thesis provides a realistic picture of the current state of the Syrian rail industry, which is based on a questionnaire of 400 individuals, which include managers and employees, of the Syrian rail company and several personal interviews of managers and passengers. The thesis also describes marketing activities that are specifically designed to improve the performance of rail industries. As a practical example, the historical developments and current marketing activities of the German rail company (DB) are described and analyzed in great detail. Based on this example, lessons for the Syrian rail sector are derived. Altogether, I find that the technical standards of rail infrastructure facilities, communication systems, locomotives, cars, stations and railways are important determinants of the success of marketing strategies in the rail industry.
PURPOSE: The aim of the article is to analyse the possibilities of domestic rail transport in the field of military transport, as well as to identify factors influencing the organization and efficiency of the transport process. ; DESIGN/APPROACH: The research was conducted using qualitative methods. The period from 2014 to 2019 was subjected to a detailed analysis. As part of the research procedure, process analysis was carried out using the method of multiple case study. ; FINDINGS: The results of the study indicate that there is a visible increase in the number of foreign forces military transports by rail. The rapid movement of military cargo by rail is currently hampered by a number of physical, legal and regulatory barriers. The poor condition of road infrastructure especially in Eastern Europe and legal barriers to the movement of oversize loads by road necessitate the use of mass rail transport. Many civilian entities are involved in the organization of the transport process. ; PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The research results can be used to improve the organization of the rail transport process in the armed forces. ; ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The conducted research revealed several problems and challenges in the field of transport organization. According to the case studies presented despite of all steps taken by both military commands and civilian institutions there is a still room for improvements in the area of transport system optimizing. Detailed conclusions and comments contained in the article may be used to improve the applicable transport procedures. ; peer-reviewed
Albanian Railways in the last two decades has experienced a fierce competition of the road transport, which has constantly taken parts in its transport market. Being a railway of a small country will modest freight and passenger traffic volumes, its survival depends on a political decision that has to be taken by albanian government. Tha paper deals with the possibility of the coming back to rail of chrome ore, gravel and fuel transport. These transports are permanent part of rail transport, but about a decade ago left the railway. The paper purpose is not to analyze removal causes of chrome ore, gravel and fuel transport by rail, but to explain the importance of time line concept to the return of these transports volume again in railway. Taking into account the social costs in the form of environmental pollution and roads blocking caused by road vehicles, in the material presented propozes the idea of a cost-benefit analysis. This analysis should be developed in order to justify a public decision to increase the rail volume by returning the goods mentioned above in the railways. The paper develops the idea that decision-making by private viewpoint of transport oprators, has not the necessary elements for solving the blocking roads and environmental pollution problem, so should not be taken into consideration for the development of transport policies in urban areas. For this purpose must be used a cost-benefit analysis to pave the way for an integrated transport or a decision making in favor of the public interest. DOI:10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n9p692
