Expansion of the Use of Freight Car Scheduling: Development of a Strategic Plan for New England

摘要

This report covers an evaluation of the use of computerized Freight Car Scheduling (FCS), a system previously developed and installed on the Missouri Pacific Railroad (MoPac), as a means for improving long-term New England railroad viability. The scope of the evaluation included an orientation of New England railroad senior managers on computerized FCS, structured interviews with the senior management of the New England railroads, a review of the rail operations within the region, an investigation of current car movement data and reporting systems, and an estimation of the economic benefits MoPac derived from the installation of FCS. Two important findings which the study revealed are the New England railroad managers' lack of enthusiastic support for installing FCS, and an insufficient traffic density in the New England region to justify its installation.