Freight railroads : industry health has improved, but concerns about competition and capacity should be addressed : report to Congressional requesters

Details

• Corporate Creators:
  United States. Government Accountability Office
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Railroad traffic
  • Freight service
  • Shipments
  • Rates
  • Economic conditions
  • Competition
  • Federal government
  • Policy
• Publication/ Report Number:
  GAO-07-94 ; NTIS-PB2007100150
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• TRIS Online Accession Number:
  1036593
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Government Accountability Office
• NTL Classification:
  NTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-Rail Planning and Policy ; NTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-Rail Economics and Finance ; NTL-FREIGHT-Freight Planning and Policy ; NTL-FREIGHT-Freight Economics and Finance
• Abstract:
  The Staggers Rail Act deregulated the freight rail industry, relying on competition to set rates, and allowed for differential pricing (charging higher rates to those more dependent on rail). The act gave the Surface Transportation Board (STB) authority to develop remedies for shippers “captive” to one railroad and set a threshold for shippers to apply for rate relief. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to review (1) changes in the railroad industry since the Staggers Rail Act, including rates and competition; (2) STB actions to address competition and captivity concerns and alternatives that could be considered; and (3) freight demand and capacity projections and potential federal policy responses. GAO examined STB data, conducted interviews, and held an expert panel. /Abstract from report, p. 2/
• Format:
  PDF
• Alternate URL:
  http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/26000/26800/26871/d0794.pdf
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/16317/dot_16317_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.55 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:7cf4e49af3c880f9cb577e2d845eb899b6d725754c45615ce5b4bde9652db89e