Regulatory reform and freight mode choice

Reform of trucking Vehicle Weights and Dimensions (VWD) regulations in Canada is now underway. The effect these reforms will have on the freight transportation industry are only recently the subject of research. This paper is part of this new research effort, aimed at understanding how regulatory reform in the trucking sector will affect the existing competitive relationship between trucks and the railways. The paper presents the results of study and research into modelling the relationship between mode choice and the service characteristics that are affected by VWD reform.Using several periods of data, a series of econometric models are developed which help to elucidate the relative relationships between the mode service characteristics for both of the principal interprovincial freight modes. A technique is developed and presented to model railway user costs in order to overcome the complex and often unrepresentable pricing activities of Canadian railways.The strength of the developed econometric models is presented, including their significance and statistical reliability. This is further reinforced by the similarities exhibited by all the models in the series. The selected model is applied to predict market service responses required of the railway industry in order to compete with the trucking sector now adapting to the new regulations.The impact of the newly implemented vehicle weight and dimension reform on the rail transportation industry is analyzed and railway industry improvements aimed at maintaining its market share are presented. The results predicted by the model show that railway user cost reductions should be moderate, and likely less than the level of inflation over the period of time when trucking converts its fleet to take advantage of the new regulations.Abbreviations AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials - CCMTA Canadian Conference of Motor Transport Administrators - EPI End products, inedible commodity classification - GVW Gross Vehicle Weight - NA 1988 VWD National Agreement - RTAC Roads and Transportation Association of Canada - VWD Vehicle Weight(s) and Dimension(s) - WA 1988 VWD Western Agreement     

基于分级节点的高速铁路货运动车组开行研究

“八纵八横”高速铁路网货运节点可以利用聚类分析法,依据货运总量、GDP、人口、社会消费品零售总额、快递业务量、线路连接数、城市类别和节点类别等指标划分为4个等级。基于灰色系统预测模型,预测2025年高速铁路货运量,构建数学模型计算保本货运量。依据节点划分、货运量预测、保本货运量结果,计算各等级节点中盈利OD所占的比例,结合日均OD量,分析各等级节点间开办高速铁路货运的可行性。研究表明,在一级节点之间可以开行高速铁路货运动车组专列,在二级节点之间可以开行客货联挂动车组,三、四级节点可以采用捎带运输的方式。     

Achieving transport modal split targets at intermodal freight hubs using a model predictive approach

The increase of international freight commerce is creating pressure on the existing transport network. Cooperation between the different transport parties (e.g., terminal managers, forwarders and transport providers) is required to increase the network throughput using the same infrastructure. The intermodal hubs are locations where cargo is stored and can switch transport modality while approaching the final destination. Decisions regarding cargo assignment are based on cargo properties. Cargo properties can be fixed (e.g., destination, volume, weight) or time varying (remaining time until due time or goods expiration date). The intermodal hub manager, with access to certain cargo information, can promote cooperation with and among different transport providers that pick up and deliver cargo at the hub. In this paper, cargo evolution at intermodal hubs is modeled based on a mass balance, taking into account hub cargo inflows and outflows, plus an update of the remaining time until cargo due time. Using this model, written in a state-space representation, we propose a model predictive approach to address the Modal Split Aware – Cargo Assignment Problem (MSA–CAP). The MSA–CAP concerns the cargo assignment to the available transport capacity such that the final destination can be reached on time while taking into consideration the transport modality used. The model predictive approach can anticipate cargo peaks at the hub and assigns cargo in advance, following a push of cargo towards the final destination approach. Through the addition of a modal split constraint it is possible to guide the daily cargo assignment to achieve a transport modal split target over a defined period of time. Numerical experiments illustrate the validity of these statements.     

Competitiveness and macroeconomic impacts of reduced wait times at U.S. land freight border crossings

We analyze the macroeconomic and trade impacts of reducing wait times by adding one customs officer at each of the twelve major land freight crossings of the U.S. The change in wait time stemming from staffing changes is first estimated on the basis of primary data and then translated into changes in freight costs through a logistical model. The transportation cost changes are then fed into a multi-country computable general equilibrium model. We find that adding one customs officer at each land border crossing would, on average per crossing, generate an increase in U.S. GDP of $350 thousand and 3.58 additional jobs.     

500米长轨营业线火车市场运费与概预算编制办法计算运费对比分析

随着《铁路基本建设项目投资管理办法》(铁总计统〔2017〕179号)及《关于铁路建设项目清理概算工作的通知》(发改投资电〔2019〕1号)文的出台,标志着铁路建设项目概算清理工作,将逐步交由建设单位按照不突破初步设计批复金额进行处理,因此初步设计阶段如何确保招标预算金额的准确性,体现的越来越为重要,本文通过对500米长轨营业线火车市场运费与编制办法计算运费的分析,量化两者费用存在的差异,列明差异原因,并提出相关建议。     

提高八钢专用铁路货运量的对策

优化调整货物运输结构、提高铁路发运占比是落实"蓝天保卫战"的一项具体举措。为了满足宝钢集团新疆八一钢铁有限公司生产规模的不断扩大、外运需求旺盛的实际,在对其铁路运输现状和需求,以及存在的线路质量较差、装卸效率较低、运输组织衔接弱等问题进行剖析的基础上,提出提高铁路货运量对策,即:推进路企直通战略合作、升级改造设备设施、构建调度全程统一指挥模式、优化货流源头组织,以加快调整运输结构,增加铁路货运量,推动铁路高质量发展。     

铁路货运市场化定价机制探讨

为发挥价格政策对资源配置的引导和调节作用,以提高效益为目的,综合运用各种价格调节手段,构建合理的运价体系和结构,理顺不同环节间的价格关系,实现科学合理定价,在分析货运价格体系现状的基础上,提出市场化定价的基本原则和定价依据,从运作机制、定价关系、定价手段等方面对铁路货运市场化定价进行研究,制定实施符合铁路运输行业特征、...     

Estimating potential reductions in externalities from rail-road substitution in Trans-European freight transport corridors

This paper develops a method for analysing and estimating savings in externalities that could be achieved by substituting truck with rail freight services in a given Trans-European freight transport corridor. The externalities affected include energy consumption, emissions of greenhouse gases, noise, congestion, and traffic incidents/accidents. The European Commission transport policy aims to provide an institutional framework for the medium- to long-term sustainable development of the transport sector. An important aspect of this policy is to stimulating the modal shift from truck to rail freight transport in inland Trans-European corridors.     

Breakthrough innovations in intermodal freight transport

Breakthrough innovations, whether technological, organizational or both, are a necessity if the market share of intermodal freight transport is to expand. The main growth potential lies in the markets for flows over short distances, for perishable and high-value commodities, for small consignments, and for flows that demand speed, reliability and flexibility. It will take radical innovations to produce a breakthrough in the modal split and allow these new markets to be conquered. This special issue is based on papers presented at an international conference on freight transport automation and multimodality, held in Delft in May 2002, that are illustrative of the direction of breakthrough research and development (R&D) aimed at increasing the market share for intermodal transport.     

雪峰山公路隧道围岩类别动态变化分析及治理措施

高速公路隧道施工过程中,无论是采用弹性波波速还是隶属函数法进行分类,围岩均可归为Ⅳ、Ⅴ类。然而,由于施工方法不当、支护强度不足或支护不及时等原因,会造成围岩类别的降低。文章分析了这种围岩类别动态变化的成因,提出了识别围岩类别变化处的地质体特征及治理措施。此技术运用于高速公路雪峰山隧道施工中,有效地预防了这类围岩类别变化的灾害发生,有益于隧道的安全施工。