CargoCap – Economic Feasibility
Michael
Kersting, RUFIS Germany
In
Germany the discussion of financing traffic infrastructure is increasingly
dominated by the aspects of private provision and operation of traffic systems.
In the context of this discussion the major question for the CargoCap system is
whether the expected returns from the transportation services are sufficient to
make an investment profitable.
The
CargoCap system was designed for the transportation of selected goods in
congested areas. It will secure the accessibility of these regions for
merchandise traffic in spite of a prospective increase in road traffic and,
consequently, in road congestion. Therefore, the economic feasibility study
focuses on the needs of manufacturing, trade, and logistics. The integration of
the regional CargoCap system into the long-distance traffic infrastructure is
provided for.
The
calculation of private investment indicates that even the basic line under
consideration could be run profitably. The calculation takes into account
expected traffic volume, estimated on the basis of available data on road
haulage, and the present level of fees. If, additionally, the higher
reliability of transportation and the increasing revenues after an expansion of
the network are taken into consideration a steadily growing traffic network can
be expected.
High
investment costs and major capital expenditure could, however, prove to be
problematic. Therefore, public funding will be necessary to finance the first
sections of the line. Possible relief of local traffic infrastructure,
reduction of the environmental externalities of road traffic, and the
possibility of obtaining income by exporting this traffic system to other
congested areas are important arguments for such a public funding.