Fuel Efficiency Improvement in Rail Freight Transportation

Item

Title
Fuel Efficiency Improvement in Rail Freight Transportation
Creator
Cetinich, J. N.
Date
1975
Identifier
PB250673
Abstract
Railroad diesel fuel conservation is becoming increasingly cost-effective. The price of diesel fuel has increased almost two and one-half times since the October 1973 Embargo. The estimated value of diesel fuel, if in short supply, is over 1 dollar a gallon. A comparison of the fuel performance of 10 selected railroads, before and after the Embargo, showed improvement in net-ton-miles hauled per gallon of diesel fuel. However, some roads used fuel less efficiently from an operating standpoint, as measured in gross-ton-miles per gallon. The most promising immediate avenue for conserving diesel fuel is designing train operating policies specifically to conserve fuel while continuing to provide desired schedule performance. Reducing horsepower-per-ton assignment to trains is a preferable strategy to that of reducing maximum allowable train operating speeds. The key to successful implementation is the appropriate short term regulation of the locomotive fleet. The basic diesel locomotive now used was designed during an era of plentiful fuel supply at a relatively low price. Many features can be improved to provide greater fuel efficiency. Corporate strategies need re-examination in the light of the high cost and uncertain supply of diesel fuel. The control of fuel must be improved and contingencies for a fuel shortage should be planned.
Date Issued
1975-12
Extent
92
Corporate Author
The Emerson Consultants, Inc.
Report Number
FRA-OR&D-76-136
PB Number
PB2500673
Contract
DOT-TSC-1105
NTRL Accession Number
PB250673
Distribution Conflict
No
Access Rights
DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE NATIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICE, SPRINGFIELD, VIRGINIA 22161
Photo Quality
Not Needed
Distribution Classification
1
DTIC Record Exists
No
Report Availability
Full text available by request
Provenance
S. Kumar
Type
report
Format
92 pages ; 28 cm.