DPSC - SCORT Rail Capacity Workshop

The Language of Rail Capacity-

Building a common approach to problem-solving

DPSC - SCORT Rail Capacity Workshop

Dictionary Definition

ca·pac·i·ty    /kəˈpæsɪti/ Show Spelled [kuh-pas-i-tee]

1. the ability to receive or contain 2. the maximum amount or number that can be

received or contained; cubic contents; volume 3. power of receiving impressions, knowledge,

etc.; mental ability 4. actual or potential ability to perform, yield,

or withstand; eg. The capacity of the oil well was 150 barrels a day.

DPSC - SCORT Rail Capacity Workshop

How many pineapples and lemons will fit into the box on the right?

DPSC - SCORT Rail Capacity Workshop

Physical Capacity

Maximum number of trains that can move through the physical plant for a given unit of time

DPSC - SCORT Rail Capacity Workshop

Practical Capacity

Physical Capacity as adjusted for many factors: Train activity unevenly distributed through the

day Operations heterogeneity – differing speeds

and stopping patterns consume capacity Operations anomalies/variations Physical plant maintenance considerations

DPSC - SCORT Rail Capacity Workshop

Freight Railway Perspective

Highly disciplined, scheduled services impose extraordinary burden

Public stakeholders impose political risk

Capacity use “uneconomic” regardless of train-mile fees

DPSC - SCORT Rail Capacity Workshop

Freight Railway Perspective

Commuter rail impacts extend well beyond commuter service area

Future public capital always in doubt; get the $$$ up front

DPSC - SCORT Rail Capacity Workshop

Public Agency Perspective

Minimum capital upfront – get the service started

How burdensome can this be when daily impacts are clearly defined?

The public is providing new sources of capital– carriers should be grateful

DPSC - SCORT Rail Capacity Workshop

Kum-ba-yaa

Passenger interests acknowledge need for rail freight service capacity

Freight carriers acknowledge passenger goals, but don’t want it to come at their expense

Absolutely safe ops environment

“Fair” sharing of costs

DPSC - SCORT Rail Capacity Workshop

Build an Objective Foundation as Joint Stakeholders in a Corridor

How is capacity measured? What are the confirmations of “adequate”

capacity? On time performance (passenger/freight) Average minutes of delay Recovery capability from unplanned events

Agree on the technical modeling tools Resource sharing Transparency of inputs/outputs

Establish and record the baseline – what can the physical plant do today?

DPSC - SCORT Rail Capacity Workshop

Comprehensive service monitoring and tracking of delays – root cause analysis

Engineering standards – building a cushion Eliminate slow orders and capacity/service

impacts) Load-leveling of maintenance/capital

renewal cycles Controlled, predictable impacts on

service/capacity

Supplement traditional approaches to rail capacity