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Economies of scale and density in urban rail transport: effects on productivity

Author

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  • Graham, Daniel J.
  • Couto, Antonio
  • Adeney, William E.
  • Glaister, Stephen

Abstract

This paper examines economies of scale and density in urban rail transport. It isolates the effects of constant and non-constant returns on output and productivity growth using data relating to 17 rail systems in cities around the world. Estimates reveal constant returns to scale but increasing returns to density. The productivity model shows that total factor productivity change has been of great importance in differentiating the output performance of urban rail systems. Our analysis of average labour productivity confirms the importance of shifts to other factors of production and technological change in explaining changing levels of output per worker.

Suggested Citation

  • Graham, Daniel J. & Couto, Antonio & Adeney, William E. & Glaister, Stephen, 2003. "Economies of scale and density in urban rail transport: effects on productivity," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 39(6), pages 443-458, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transe:v:39:y:2003:i:6:p:443-458
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Tamaki, Tetsuya & Nakamura, Hiroki & Fujii, Hidemichi & Managi, Shunsuke, 2019. "Efficiency and emissions from urban transport: Application to world city-level public transportation," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 55-63.
    2. Abe, Ryosuke & Kato, Hironori, 2017. "What led to the establishment of a rail-oriented city? Determinants of urban rail supply in Tokyo, Japan, 1950–2010," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 72-79.
    3. Xuto, Praj & Anderson, Richard J. & Graham, Daniel J. & Hörcher, Daniel, 2021. "Optimal infrastructure reinvestment in urban rail systems: A dynamic supply optimisation approach," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 251-268.
    4. Li, Hongchang & Yu, Kemei & Wang, Kun & Zhang, Anming, 2019. "Market power and its determinants in the Chinese railway industry," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 261-276.
    5. Miura, Taiki & Tamaki, Tetsuya & Kii, Masanobu & Kajitani, Yoshio, 2021. "Efficiency by sectors in areas considering CO2 emissions: The case of Japan," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 514-528.
    6. Leonardo J. Basso & Sergio R. Jara-Díaz & William G. Waters, 2011. "Cost Functions for Transport Firms," Chapters, in: André de Palma & Robin Lindsey & Emile Quinet & Roger Vickerman (ed.), A Handbook of Transport Economics, chapter 12, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    7. Christian von Hirschhausen & Astrid Cullmann, 2008. "Next Stop: Restructuring?: A Nonparametric Efficiency Analysis of German Public Transport Companies," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 831, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    8. Wey, Wann-Ming & Kang, Chao-Chung & Khan, Haider A., 2020. "Evaluating the effects of environmental factors and a transfer fare discount policy on the performance of an urban metro system," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 172-185.
    9. Jiang, Changmin & Zhang, Anming, 2014. "Effects of high-speed rail and airline cooperation under hub airport capacity constraint," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 33-49.
    10. Alireza Ermagun & David Levinson, 2015. "Access and Transit System Performance," Working Papers 000129, University of Minnesota: Nexus Research Group.
    11. Xia, Wenyi & Zhang, Anming, 2016. "High-speed rail and air transport competition and cooperation: A vertical differentiation approach," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 456-481.
    12. Ermagun, Alireza & Witlox, Frank, 2024. "Transit access effectiveness in American metropolitan areas," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    13. Anupriya, & Graham, Daniel J. & Carbo, Jose M. & Anderson, Richard J. & Bansal, Prateek, 2020. "Understanding the costs of urban rail transport operations," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 292-316.

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