Scale economies in United States rail transit systems

Ian Savage

Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 1997, vol. 31, issue 6, 459-473

Abstract: A three-staged least squares translog cost function is estimated for 13 heavy-rail and nine light-rail United States urban mass transit systems for the period 1985-1991. Firm output is taken to be endogenous. Large economies of density are found in operating costs. These economies become even more substantial when the cost of way and structure maintenance and capital costs are incorporated. However, there are constant returns to system size in short-run variable costs.

Date: 1997
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