Comparison of Railway Freight Operation Methods by Country and Policy Implications

Key Points

• The study aims to compare railway freight ownership structures between countries and suggest improvements for Korea's railway logistics.
• Analyzed ownership structures of freight cars across different countries.
• Compared South Korea's freight operation to those of Japan, North America, Europe, and Russia.
• Evaluated the impact of privatization and leasing on freight operations.
• Korea's freight cars are primarily owned by public entities, unlike many in North America and Europe.
• Japan's system closely mirrors Korea's, focusing on private ownership for certain freight types.
• The study recommends enhancing public ownership for general freight while utilizing private and leasing markets for specialized freight.

Abstract