Surface Transportation Practice
Rail
Practice
The firm’s main
areas of specialization within the rail industry are:
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Rates and
pricing, costing and cost allocation and financial analysis
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Public/private
sector issues including privatization
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Evaluation of
carrier consolidation including marketing, operations, personnel and
shareholders’ considerations
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Special studies
in marketing, operations and maintenance, including short line operations
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Asset valuation
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Expert
testimony
Asset Valuation
GRA has assessed
the values of some of the largest privately-owned fleets of rolling stock in the
world. In developing valuations, the firm relies upon its experience in rail car
markets worldwide, and on state-of-the-art sampling techniques to assess market
demand and current physical condition of fleets.
GRA has also valued
entire rail properties for acquisition and has provided valuations on rail
company assets on behalf of minority shareholders, potential acquirers and
merger partners.
Marketing and
Logistics
GRA has conducted
numerous studies involving the marketing of rail services, in both the freight
and passenger areas. Some examples of studies include:
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Ten-year demand
forecast for coal transportation for a Class 1 railroad
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Regional
forecasts of rail freight traffic under system reconfiguration such as
mergers
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Demand
forecasts for various equipment types
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Intermodal
growth projections for carriers and equipment suppliers
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Passengers
demand estimates for proposed new services and revised schedules and
equipment
In addition, GRA
has developed and evaluated integrated logistics systems for shippers. In a
recent assignment, GRA reviewed the current shipping patterns of a multi-plant,
multi-product company which ships large volumes of time-sensitive merchandise to
worldwide destinations. GRA developed a revised approach to these shipments
which dramatically reduced transportation costs and increased reliability.
Rail
Reorganization and Privatization
GRA has specialized
in developing optimal corporate and government policies for reorganized
railroads. The firm develops its financial and operating analysis using
practical railroad knowledge as a foundation.
GRA
rail studies are based on practical knowledge of railroad operations...
The firm’s
assignments have included:
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Advisory
services to trustees and other parties involved in reorganization of
bankrupt carriers
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Advisory
services to investors and railroad equipment lessors, including bankruptcy
cases
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Expert witness
testimony in merger, acquisition, cost/rate and abandonment cases
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Counseling
services to governments on rail privatization
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Operations and
maintenance planning and costing for parties to acquisition and/or
privatization projects
Trucking
GRA services to
truck operators include:
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Fleet
optimization, including the application of new technologies
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Analysis
of intermodal and multi-modal services
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Regulatory
counsel
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Competitive
analysis (acquisition/evaluation)
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New
product/service analysis
Analysis
of Intermodal Services
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The firm has
specialized expertise in intermodal facility costing, equipment interchange,
and technology issues.
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GRA can also
help trucking companies evaluate intermodal facilities and equipment, assess
the relative merits of alternative railroads and maritime companies, and
project potential delivery times and service quality for intermodal
operations.
Analysis of
Multi-Modal Options
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Rail/truck
services utilizing national trucking firms and dedicated rail corridor
operations
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Truck and air
combinations for both existing commercial operators and shippers
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Air/truck/fast
ship combinations for a manufacturer and a commercial transportation company
In many of these
same studies, the firm has advised its clients on the make-or-buy decision.
Fleet
Optimization
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GRA has
specialized in developing benefit/cost models used by commercial operators
and manufacturers in assessing the appropriateness of new technologies in
specific operating environments
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GRA has also
helped shippers evaluate whether and to what extent it would be appropriate
to operate private fleets.
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