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Published byHarriet Cameron Modified over 9 years ago
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Testing the Hypothesis Bill Schafer Director, Strategic Planning March 21, 2007 Can Rail Reduce Congestion?
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Discussion Points How Rail Intermodal Works Today Where It Works Where It Doesn’t Where It Should How NS Is Testing the Hypothesis Conclusions
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Intermodal Today > 500 Mile Hauls Once a Day Frequency Average Speed ~ 25 mph Reliability ~ 60-70% ~ 10% Annual Volume Growth
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Intermodal Today Customer-Focused Organic Growth Internally Funded Benefits to Customers, Employees, Owners Discipline of the Marketplace No Incentive to Reduce Highway Congestion Better Freight Replaces Good Freight Capital Improvements Enhance Shareholder Value
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Intermodal Not Keeping Up With Growth
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Key Question Can Rail Reduce Truck Congestion? If So, How Much? What is Needed? How Much Will It Cost? Where Will Money Come From?
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Where It’s Already Happening Chicago-California As Much As 80% Penetration in Some Lanes BNSF Betting the Farm New York-Chicago ~ 30% Penetration NS and CSXT Have High Capacity Routes Medium- to Long-Hauls, >750 Miles High Volumes
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Where It Isn’t Happening Shorter Hauls, <750 Miles Fragmented Origin-Destination Flows
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Where It Could Happen 500 – 1500 Mile Hauls Neither Truck Nor Rail Has Clear Advantage
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How NS Is Testing The Hypothesis “Intermodal Expressway” (Working Name) In-House Study Network of New Intermodal Services Between Northeast and Texas Target Market: Dry Vans Byproduct: Effect on I-81 Congestion Virginia DOT Virginia DRPT
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Goal: Better Service Faster Average Speeds Higher Frequency Greater Levels of Reliability
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Goal: Additional Assets Track and Structures TerminalsEquipmentPersonnel
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Goal: Additional Benefits Public Highway Users Freight Shippers Private Norfolk Southern Truck Lines
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Goal: Public-Private Partnership Heartland Corridor Example Federal State Local Railroad
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Next Steps Complete the Study Train Simulations Cost of New Services Identify Additional Assets Identify Sources of Funding Begin Outreach Federal-State-Local Partners Potential Customers Implement
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3-Phase Analysis Approach 1. Preliminary Assessment of Feasibility 2. Detailed Analysis Q: Do benefits justify the costs? Use traffic diversion and benefit models 3. Decision-Making Q: Is this project better than alternatives? Use benefit/cost and multi-criteria analysis Q: Can rail help relieve congestion? Use simple sketch planning tools
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Conclusions We Believe Rail Can Help With Highway Congestion Benefits Will Be Perceived By Shippers Shareholders Motoring Public
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