A new approach to economic appraisal of railway infrastructure operations related to freight transportation

AIM: This work aimed to develop a new approach to the economic appraisal of railway infrastructure operations related to freight transportation based on the freight load indicator. METHODS: Analysis of middle term statistical data for 2022–2024, comparison of the conventional freight tonnage indicator with a new freight load indicator, and assessment of macro- and industry-specific economic effects. RESULTS: We identified a multidirectional change in freight tonnage and freight load caused by a lower freight delivery rate. We identified the potential for reducing the frozen working capital and increasing the GDP and profits, if the infrastructure utilization parameters are restored to the 2022 level. CONCLUSION: The complementary use of freight tonnage and freight load allows to identify reserves for improving the infrastructure performance, including mitigating the operational seasonality.