Research Article

An Approach for Economic Analysis of Intermodal Transportation

Table 3

Technical and economical properties of the vehicles.

Description of vehiclesSymbolUnitTransportation modes
SeawayRailwayRoad
General cargo shipFreight trainTruck

Investment cost including infrastructure $6 000 0006 500 00090 000
Average economic lifetime Year202010
Insurance percentage (% ) $0.0200.009230.02778
Service speed of vehicle km/h223550
Cargo capacity Ton297070020
Annual maintenance-repair time Hours3001200720
Annual idle time Hours109510955110
Fuel consumption per km (main + aux.) Litre/km1670.3
Lubricant consumption per km (main + aux.) Litre/km0.110.050.0036
Fuel price $/litre0.31.701.70
Lubricant price $/litre1.105.505.50
Annual operation and maintenance costs $/year750 000800 00015 000
Interest rate 0.080.080.08
Discount rate 0.10.10.1
Escalation rate for future operational and maintenance costs 0.030.030.03
Escalation rate for future fuel cost 0.050.050.05
Escalation rate for future insurance cost 0.030.030.03
Escalation rate for future external costs 0.030.030.03
Route length km100010001000
Waiting time between sequential trips Hours9.00306.00
Specific cost of accident $/(ton·km)
Specific cost of pollution $/(ton·km)
Specific cost of noise $/(ton·km)
Average fullness ratio 0.700.900.90
Reference fullness ratio for the specific external costs 0.700.700.70

Note: all values in the tables are considered data of March 2006.