THE EXTERNAL COSTS OF TRANSPORT

The results of a study into the external costs of transport, aimed at improving the empirical basis for calculating the external costs of transport using current cost estimation methodologies, are reported. The factors taken into account are: cost categories, countries (EU member states, Switzerland, Norway), base year, different transport modes (road transport, rail transport, air transport, waterways), functional and regional distinctions, total and average costs per country and per transport modes, and the marginal costs per transport mode and traffic situation. It was concluded that total and average costs would increase despite improved productivity and technology. Issues for examination in greater depth were identified: national accounts and marginal costs for different traffic situations, risk values, atmospheric pollution costs, costs of climatic change risks, and congestion. For the covering abstract see ITRD E117504.