Intercity Passenger Rail Productivity in the Northeast Corridor
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PRODUCTIVITY OF PASSENGER RAIL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES IN THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR Andrés F. Ryusuke Rebecca Joseph M. Regional Transportation Planning and High-Speed Rail Archila Sakamoto Fearing Sussman Research Group http://web.mit.edu/hsr-group Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA Motivation and Objectives Methodology Productivity: Definition: Ratio of Method: Non-parametric Outputs: Inputs: Evaluate the performance of Analyze the Tokaido- Provide some insight into how -Can explain long-term outputs to inputs SFP and MFP Törnqvist -Ridership, (ticket) - Operating costs the Northeast Corridor (NEC) Shinkansen line in Japan from the NEC might be developed growth of an entity • Single-Factor Productivity trans-log index, with many revenue, revenue - (Capital, personnel, and • Improvements are caused by (SFP), a single input and a metrics passenger-miles (RPM) or non-personnel expenses passenger rail services from 1964-2010 and various over the next decades if single output 푆퐹푃 푦 푥 technological changes, ln 1 = ln 1 − ln 1 revenue passenger-km in the case of Japan) FY 2002-2012 via productivity European HSR experiences international-quality HSR is investment, organizational • Multi-Factor Productivity (MFP): 푆퐹푃 푦 푥 (RPK), and available seat- reforms, and external factors multiple inputs but a single 0 0 0 푦 = 표푢푡푝푢푡, 푥 = 푖푛푝푢푡, miles (ASM) analysis introduced output 1 = 푐푢푟푟푒푛푡 푦푒푎푟, 0 = 푙푎푠푡 푦푒푎푟 The Amtrak Northeast Corridor (NEC) Productivity Analysis • Amtrak: Established in 1971 NEC Cumulative SFP Growth FY 2002-2012 NEC’s Productivity NEC Ownership and Operations (Source: NEC MPWG 2010) (2005 index = 100) • NEC: A 457-mi rail corridor connecting Washington, DC, New York, 130 • Volatile but considerable productivity growth (~1-3% NY, and Boston, MA, the most densely settled and richest region in Ridership SFP 121 yearly), +-20% peak the U.S. -- A multi-state, multi-operator, multi-use, and multi- 120 Ticket Revenue SFP Revenue Passenger-Miles (RPM) SFP • Increased ability to exploit owner corridor 119 available capacity, but not so 110 Available Seat-Miles (ASM) SFP 106 • Acela Express (top speed 150 mph) and NE Regional (125 mph) much to create additional 100 capacity are the most important passenger services 103 Drivers of Productivity Performance 2002-2012 90 • Service changes in 2006 Amtrak’s NEC Ridership FY 2002-2012 80 2002: Technical (million passengers) • Technical problems with train problems with braking sets in 2005 system of the Acela 12.0 NEC 70 11.4 • Targeted capital investments 10.0 NEC (excl. Clocker) • Economic recession and 2005: Removal of recovery since 2008 Clocker. Problems with 8.0 (NE) Regional 8.0 Tokaido-Shinkansen HSR Line Cumulative MFP Growth 1964-2010 Acela’s braking system 6.0 Express vs. Regional (1964 index=100) 4.0 (Acela) Express Revenue MFP Revenue Passenger-km (RPK) MFP • Sensitive to external events 2008-09: Economic 240 3.4 • Large economies of scale recession 2.0 220 • Slow capacity adjustment via 219 0.0 200 rolling stock and infrastructure Since 2009: Federal improvements 180 funding for capital • Acela Express more sensitive investments 160 than Northeast Regional 159 140 Privatization of JNR ‘87 Substantial ridership Amtrak’s NEC Ticket Revenue FY 2002-2012 120 and revenue growth (in 2012 $ millions) • Increased MFP for the despite a 2-3 year $1,200 100 Tokaido-Shinkansen line setback caused by $1,046 economic recession $1,000 • Brought a new surge in NEC ridership and revenue Improved market $800 Conclusions share relative to air. NEC (excl. Clocker) Vertical Separation in EU $600 $536 Upward trend. NEC (NE) Regional The NEC has become more productive, due mainly to external factors and market behavior. Addressing critical bottlenecks can continue to increase productivity • Positive results in Germany is 52% of Amtrak’s $400 $508 and Sweden (Friebel et al.) ticket revenue Express services were more sensitive than $200 (Acela) Express Regional services to externalities Increasing costs of running HSR rolling stock in the next years could be balanced by a • Reduced productivity in Capacity- more efficient use of infrastructure in the NEC, thus increasing productivity France (Friebel et al.) $0 Ridership is growing faster on Regional than constrained shared on Express services Construction of HSR and introduction of vertical separation in infrastructure and • Expectation about corridor. Level of developments in Italy service has only But Express services contributed in 2012 operations increased productivity in some international settings marginally improved nearly as much revenue as Regional services Acknowledgements Implications The research team acknowledges the Speedwell Foundation and Shelter Hill Foundation for providing the major funding for this research. Support was also provided by the NURail Center, a USDOT University Transportation Center housed at the University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign. Experience in Japan suggests Vertical separation in the Efficacy of implementation that private sector involvement responsibility for operations and depends on the particular set of References can lead to enhanced productivity infrastructure may open the door circumstances. Potential private • Archila, A. F. (2013). Intercity Passenger Rail Productivity in the Northeast Corridor: Implications for the Future of High-Speed Rail for competition, and also lead to sector involvement and vertical • Sakamoto, R. (2012). High Speed Railway Productivity: How Does Organizational Restructuring Contribute to HSR Productivity Growth? enhanced productivity separation should be consider in • The NEC Master Plan Working Group (MPWG) (2010). The Northeast Corridor Infrastructure Master Plan. the planning process • Friebel, G., Ivaldi, M. and Vibes, C. (2008, 2010). Railway (De)Regulation - A European Efficiency Comparison. Economica, Oct 2008, Jan 2010 .