Re: Rail vs Road

[Michael Cuthbert <mcuth@sydney.dialix.oz.au>]

Douglas CLIFFORD wrote:
> 
> In  "Network Rail" Vol 35 No 6. Dec/Jan 1998 p.8  Professor Ian Lowe
> (Griffith University) is stated to have said "...the subsidy for the
> average 20 tonne articulated truck is $20,000 - 30,000 a year...Road
> damage is 3 million times that of a 1 tonne passenger vehicle
> (according to the 5th Power Law effect of axle loads").  Could some
> one please confirm this rather extraordinary ratio.

When designing a road pavement, you ONLY need to consider the impact of
heavy vehicles using the road- cars have such a tiny impact as to be
irrelevant.

Mike.