29.08.2014 Views

Railway Reform: Toolkit for Improving Rail Sector Performance - ppiaf

Railway Reform: Toolkit for Improving Rail Sector Performance - ppiaf

Railway Reform: Toolkit for Improving Rail Sector Performance - ppiaf

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

<strong><strong>Rail</strong>way</strong> <strong>Re<strong>for</strong>m</strong>: <strong>Toolkit</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Improving</strong> <strong>Rail</strong> <strong>Sector</strong> Per<strong>for</strong>mance<br />

Case Study: Indian <strong><strong>Rail</strong>way</strong>s<br />

In 2007, the World Bank commissioned independent research on this remarkable<br />

turnaround. The study found that some accounting changes had improved the<br />

operating ratio, but even allowing <strong>for</strong> that, IR had improved its real commercial<br />

per<strong>for</strong>mance and financial results substantially, based on the following.<br />

• Traffic growth. IR enjoyed a period of increasing volumes; most incremental<br />

railway traffic can be carried at a marginal cost much lower than average<br />

cost, thus improving financial per<strong>for</strong>mance (Figures 5 and 7).<br />

• Tariff increases. Gains due to higher volumes and lower average costs were<br />

magnified by real increases in freight rates during this period, implemented<br />

as part of a revised and simplified tariff system.<br />

• Labor productivity. Beginning in 2001, labor productivity accelerated and by<br />

2007, had almost doubled, reflecting traffic growth and a policy of labor <strong>for</strong>ce<br />

downsizing.<br />

The World Bank Page 357

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!