Analytical models of rail transportation service in the grain supply chain: Deconstructing the operational and economic advantages of shuttle train service

Michael F. Hyland, Hani S. Mahmassani and Lama Bou Mjahed

Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, 2016, vol. 93, issue C, 294-315

Abstract: This paper introduces conceptual and mathematical models of the domestic grain supply chain incorporating trucking, elevator storage, and rail transportation. We compare conventional rail service supported by country elevators with shuttle service supported by terminal elevators across three critical transportation service dimensions: travel time, cost, and capacity. Even after taking into account trucking and elevator storage, the time and cost model results indicate that shuttle service transports grain faster and reduces logistical supply chain costs, respectively, relative to conventional service. The rail capacity model results demonstrate that shifting grain from conventional to shuttle service significantly increases rail capacity.

Keywords: Rail transportation; Rail cost model; Shuttle trains; Grain export supply chain; Terminal elevators (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.tre.2016.06.008

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