Comments on: The True Cost of Driving http://trainblog.com/2007/01/the-true-cost-of-driving/ TrainBlog - Blogging about passenger trains, high-speed rail, Amtrak, Caltrain, VTA, railroads, transit, public transportation, passenger rail advocacy and related politics. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:05:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: George Bailey http://trainblog.com/2007/01/the-true-cost-of-driving/#comment-56465 George Bailey Mon, 10 Dec 2007 23:32:06 +0000 http://trainblog.com/2007/01/the-true-cost-of-driving/#comment-56465 I'm going to have to dig back on these numbers, 0.86 to 1.25 per mile is making me choke! I knew it was high, but that's more than I thought. So if this is true (and assuming trucking costs are related), I wonder how come there's so much freight trucking as opposed to better use of freight trains. Always seemed odd to me - maybe the management logistics is simpler for single trucks than hundreds of cars? I’m going to have to dig back on these numbers, 0.86 to 1.25 per mile is making me choke! I knew it was high, but that’s more than I thought.
So if this is true (and assuming trucking costs are related), I wonder how come there’s so much freight trucking as opposed to better use of freight trains. Always seemed odd to me - maybe the management logistics is simpler for single trucks than hundreds of cars?

]]> By: Adron http://trainblog.com/2007/01/the-true-cost-of-driving/#comment-824 Adron Thu, 18 Jan 2007 01:26:57 +0000 http://trainblog.com/2007/01/the-true-cost-of-driving/#comment-824 I'm gonna have to work on that one. The last time I did the calculations it worked out to about a buck something ($1.12-1.25 for car travel in an average American 20mpg car with a life span of 10 yrs. An efficient operating rail system could provide the same service under 4/5 peak service (i.e. not full cars) for about $0.80-1.05. The higher number being light rail. If the system was really efficient, re: circa Milwaukee Roads Hiawatha trains or Chicago's Metra the cost could be cut to about $0.75-0.90 the higher being slightly "less packed" trains. Either which way, the prices seem close until one looks at the yearly totals and noticed the thousands in differnce. :) I’m gonna have to work on that one.

The last time I did the calculations it worked out to about a buck something ($1.12-1.25 for car travel in an average American 20mpg car with a life span of 10 yrs.

An efficient operating rail system could provide the same service under 4/5 peak service (i.e. not full cars) for about $0.80-1.05. The higher number being light rail. If the system was really efficient, re: circa Milwaukee Roads Hiawatha trains or Chicago’s Metra the cost could be cut to about $0.75-0.90 the higher being slightly “less packed” trains.

Either which way, the prices seem close until one looks at the yearly totals and noticed the thousands in differnce. :)

]]> By: Marcel Marchon http://trainblog.com/2007/01/the-true-cost-of-driving/#comment-778 Marcel Marchon Wed, 17 Jan 2007 05:55:05 +0000 http://trainblog.com/2007/01/the-true-cost-of-driving/#comment-778 Interestingly, somebody else also had the idea to post about this topic today. See <a href="http://www.bta4bikes.org/btablog/2007/01/16/driving-is-expensive/" rel="nofollow">here</a> Interestingly, somebody else also had the idea to post about this topic today. See here

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