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This paper surveys alternative methodologies for measuring and comparing the productivity and efficiency of railways, and the empirical findings of applied studies. Empirical studies reveal trends and differences among railways and time periods. Almost all studies reviewed conclude that increased competition via regulatory liberalisation and deregulation has improved efficiency. Many European studies find that managerial autonomy increases efficiency. It is important that the effects of differential operating environments such as traffic density and the characteristics of a rail network should be removed in order to make a proper comparison of efficiency.
Oum et al. (Fri,) studied this question.