Project: Preparation of a "Business Case" for Advanced
Train Control Systems
Client: Railroad Industry Trade Association
ZETA-TECH has been a participant in several studies of the benefits of Advanced Train Control Systems (ATCS). A railroad industry trade association perceived a need to put the results of the various benefits studies together in a single package, so that railroad executives could evaluate the benefits of ATCS for their railroads.
ZETA-TECH staff worked with employees of two Class I railroads to assemble documentation on the various benefits analyses and write a narrative description of the sources and magnitude of the benefits. A "cookbook" spreadsheet analysis package was also prepared, relating financial benefits and cost to three variables:
With this spreadsheet, estimated after-tax return on an investment in ATCS could be quickly and easily calculated for any North American railroad.