California State Rail Plan 2007-08 to 2017-18

Chapter XIX – Freight Rail Research and StudiesThe software calculates the benefit/cost ratio for each project, considering thefactors listed above and the time-value of money. A Capital Budget Model is thenrun to select the combination of projects that maximizes the public benefitsresulting from every dollar invested in the rail system.The Freight Rail Investment Calculator is one part of the overall decision processof how public funds should best be invested to spur economic growth and enhancefreight and passenger mobility in Florida. This calculator could be adapted toevaluate freight rail projects in California, something the CTC, which willprogram the TCIF bonds for freight rail projects, is currently investigating.PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES, CRITERIA ANDMONITORINGTypical performance measures tracked by AAR include: number of cars on line,train speed and terminal dwell time. These all affect railroad velocity and arailroad’s ability to be profitable. In California where freight rail volumes areincreasing, and the rail network and capacity are becoming constrained, this isespecially true.Despite the use of a common methodology, one railroad’s performance metricscannot meaningfully be compared to another railroad’s, due to differencesincluding, but not limited to, those associated with network terrain and designcharacteristics, traffic mix, traffic volume, length of haul, extent of passengeroperations, and operational practices – as well as external factors such as weatherand port operations which can impact carriers differently.Some of the more general measures and definitions are shown below:Cars On LineCars On Line is the average of the daily on-line inventory of freight cars.Articulated cars are counted as a single unit. Cars on private tracks (e.g., at acustomer's facility) are counted on the last railroad on which they were located.Maintenance of way cars are excluded. Cars on Line figures are reported by cartype for the following car types:259