Rail vs. Truck Fuel Efficiency: U.S. Department The Relative Fuel Efficiency of Truck of Transportation Competitive Rail Freight and Federal Railroad Administration Truck Operations Compared in a Range of Corridors Office of Policy FINAL REPORT Abacus Technology Corporation Chevy Chase, Maryland Moving America New Directions, New Opportunities DOT/FRA/RRP-91/2 April 1991 Document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161 Technical Report Documentation Page 1 • R e p o rt N o . 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catolog No. FRA-RRP-91-02 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Rail vs Truck Fuel Efficiency: The Relative Fuel Efficiency of Truck Competitive Rail Freight and Truck 6. Performing Organizotion Code Operations Compared in a Range of Corridors 8. -Performing Organization Report No. 7. Authors) Abacus Technology Corporation 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) Abacus Technology Corporation 5454 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1100 11. Contract or Grant No. DTFR-53-90-C-00017 Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815 13. Type of Report and Period Covered 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address U.S. Department of Transportation Final Report Federal Railroad Administration Office of Policy, RRP-32 14. Sponsoring Agency Code Washington, DC 20590 Federal Railroad Admin. 15. Supplementary Notes William Gelston (Chief, Economic Studies Division, FRA), Project Sponsor Marilyn W. Klein (Senior Policy Analyst, FRA), Project Monitor 16. Abstract This report summarizes the findings of a study to evaluate the fuel efficiency of rail freight operations relative to competing truckload service. The objective of the study was to identify the circumstances in which rail freight service offers a fuel efficiency advantage over alternative truckload options, and to estimate the fuel savings associated with using rail service. The findings are based on computer simulations of rail and truck freight movements between the same origins and destinations. The simulation input assumptions and data are based on actual rail and truck operations. Input data was provided by U.S. regipnal and Class I railroads and by large truck fleet operators. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement fuel efficiency, rail, truck, ton-miles This document is available to the per gallon, lading weight, payload public through the National Technical weight, average speed, horsepower per Information Service, Springfield, VA trailing ton, train performance 22161 19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21* N o. o f P ages 22. P ric e Unclassified Unclassified 152 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized PREFACE The U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration.has undertaken a study of the fuel efficiency of rail- freight operations relative to truck freight operations. This report summarizes the study findings and conclusions. The findings are based on computer simulations of rail and truck freight movements between the same origin and destination locations. The simulation input assumptions and data are based on actual rail, and truck operations. Input data was provided by U.S. regional and Class I railroads and by large truck fleet operators. Contributors to the study are listed in the appendix FINAL REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Number P r e f a c e G lo s s a r y SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS S - l 1 .0 INTRODUCTION 1 -1 1.1 Project Objectives 1-1 .1.2 Project Scope 1-2 1.3 Project Methodology 1-2 2 .0 CHANGES IN RAIL AND TRUCK EQUIPMENT/OPERATIONS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO IMPROVED FUEL ECONOMY 2 -1 2.1 Locomotive Design Changes 2-1 2.2 Rail Equipment Design Changes 2-4 2.3 Truck Equipment Design Changes 2-6 2.4 Rail Operations Changes . 2-9 2.5 Truck Operations Changes 2-12 3 .0 ADOPTION OF ENERGY SAVING IMPROVEMENTS INTO OPERATING FLEETS 3 -1 3.1 Current Rail Fleet Characteristics 3-1 3.2 Current Truck Fleet Characteristics 3-6 4 .0 FUEL EFFICIENCY UNIT OF MEASURE AND CALCULATION METHODS 4 -1 •4.1 Fuel Efficiency Unit of Measure 4-1 4.2 Assumptions for Measuring Fuel Efficiency 4-3 4.3 Rail .Fuel Efficiency Calculation 4-4 4.4 Truck Fuel Efficiency Calculation 4-4 5 .0 DESCRIPTION OF FREIGHT SERVICE SCENARIOS 5 -1 5.1 Rail/Truck Freight Competitive Commodities 5-1 5.2 Rail Service Scenarios 5-4 5.3 Truck Service Scenarios 5—14 6 .0 SIMULATION RESULTS 6-1 6.1 Summary of Results for All Scenarios 6-1 l i 6.2 Rail vs. Truck Fuel Efficiency in Class I S c e n a r io s 6 -3 6.3 Rail vs. Truck Fuel Efficiency in Regional/Local Scenarios 6-18 7 .0 RAIL VS. TRUCK FUEL EFFICIENCY FINDINGS 7 -1 7 .1 Rail vs. Truck Ton-Miles per Gallon 7 -1 7.2 Amount of Fuel Savings with Rail Use 7-7 7.3 Effect of Rail Circuity on Fuel Consumption 7-13 APPENDIX A DESCRIPTION OF TRAIN PERFORMANCE SIMULATOR A -l APPENDIX B DESCRIPTION OF TRUCK VEHICLE MISSION SIMULATOR B - l APPENDIX C DOCUMENTATION OF RAIL SERVICE SCENARIOS C -l APPENDIX D DOCUMENTATION OF TRUCK SERVICE SCENARIOS D -l APPENDIX E METHOD FOR EVALUATING RAIL ROUTE SEVERITY E - l APPENDIX F METHOD FOR EVALUATING TRUCK ROUTE SEVERITY F - l APPENDIX G ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING FUEL CONSUMPTION FOR RAIL SWITCHING, RAIL TERMINAL OPERATIONS AND TRUCK DRAYAGE ■ G -l APPENDIX H ABSTRACTS OF PREVIOUS FUEL EFFICIENCY STUDIES H -l APPENDIX I ENGINE PERFORMANCE CURVE 1 -1 APPENDIX J CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS STUDY J - l iii GLOSSARY I . FUEL EFFICIENCY TERMS Ton-miles per gallon A measure of the number of miles one ton of freight can be moved with one gallon of fuel or, conversely, the number of tons that can be moved one mile with a gallon of fuel. In this study, ton-miles per gallon were calculated based on the weight of the freight and fuel required to move the rail car or truck with contents over the s p e c i f i e d . .r o u t e . Fuel efficiency A relative term which expresses the productive use of fuel. There are several fuel efficiency units of measure. In this study, ton-miles per gallon of fuel was selected as the fuel efficiency unit of measure. Fuel consumption In this study, fuel consumption refers,,, to the number of gallons of fuel expended in the process of moving the specified commodity by either rail o r t r u c k . Scenario A numerical designation affixed to each unique rail and truck configuration studied. Each scenario includes the route, commodity, equipment, speed, and locomotive and car consists. I I . RAIL TERMS Class I railroad A railroad with operating revenues of $93.5 million or more in 1989, as classified by the Interstate Commerce Commission. For a carrier to fall into or out of Class I status, it must be above or below the threshold for three consecutive y e a r s .* Class X rail route In this study, a route which exceeds 100 miles. Regional railroad A non-Class I line-haul railroad which operates 350 or more miles of road, and/or which earns revenues of at least $40 m illion.* G -l Regional/ local rail route - In this study, a route less than 100 miles. Local railroad - A railroad which is neither a Class I nor Regional railroad, and which is primarily engaged in providing line-haul service.* Rail TOFC - Car with flat deck, no sides or roof designed to carry highway truck trailers Rail Doublestack - A flatcar with a low well designed to carry removable containers loaded two-high III. TRUCK TERMS Over-the- Road Service - Movement of a truck trailer over a long distance (greater than 100 miles) from shipper to consignee Local Service - Movement of a truck trailer over a short distance (less than 100 miles) from shipper to consignee As defined by the Association of American Railroads G-2 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS A fuel efficiency study was performed by Abacus Technology for the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Rather than attempting to make broad judgments about the relative fuel efficiency of all rail freight versus all truck freight as other studies have done, this study compares the fuel efficiency of rail service with competing truckload service in the same corridors, taking account of the circuity of the routing. Only major rail-truck competitive commodities were compared, and the study anticipated that results would vary according to differing conditions. The rail fuel efficiency findings are based on simulations using a train performance simulator (TPS). Truck fuel efficiency findings are based on simulations performed with the Cummins Engine Company vehicle mission simulation (VMS) model. Both models are respected for their accuracy and are used extensively by industry. Characteristics of the routes and operating scenarios are defined to reflect real world operating conditions and are simulated separately for rail and truck. The rail scenarios include calculations of fuel used in local rail switching, terminal operations, and truck drayage, as relevant to the move. Parametric analysis is not used in this study. Additional findings are based on reviews of relevant literature, discussions with equipment operators and manufacturers, and consultations with railroad and motor carrier industry representatives. The study findings are consistent with previous studies reporting the superiority of rail fuel efficiency over truckload service. FINDINGS This study analyzes the fuel efficiency of truck and rail freight movement; it does not consider transportation cost, speed of delivery or quality of service. The key findings are: 1 . TON-MILES PER GALLON WAS DETERMINED TO BEST MEET THE STUDY REQUIREMENTS FOR A FUEL EFFICIENCY MEASUREMENT.