One of the neverending arguments in the battle between buses (especially bus rapid transit) and light rail is which costs more. From the perspective of capital costs, it is clear that light rail costs more to build than bus rapid transit. This is due to the need for tracks, the electric catenary, electrical substations and other infrastructure that buses do not need. In addition, light rail lines often need their own garages, while bus rapid transit lines can store their buses at existing bus depots.

Operating Costs

In terms of operating costs, it is often argued that light rail is cheaper to operate than buses because the capacity of light rail is so much greater than buses. This allows for fewer light rail trains than buses that are operated along a corridor for the same number of passengers. One light rail train consisting of three 60-feet cars can carry as many people as four and one-half standard buses. Assuming passenger load remains constant, a light rail train that has three cars operating every 10 minutes would need to be replaced by standard buses operating almost every two minutes. In other words, six light rail trains per hour are equal to 27.5 standard buses per hour. If there is enough demand along a corridor to operate buses every two minutes, then a light rail train would have lower operating costs than buses.

How Often Do Light Rail Lines Operate?

Unfortunately, with few exceptions, American cities do not have bus corridors that have sufficient demand to operate buses every two minutes. Instead, cities are choosing to operate their light rail lines as often or more often than existing bus service. Replacing a bus operating every 15 minutes with a two-car light rail train operating every 15 minutes is the equivalent of increasing corridor capacity by 300 percent. A two-car light rail train is the equivalent of three standard buses. While ridership is likely to increase due to the introduction of trains, it is unlikely to increase by 300 percent.

As the table below shows, it is much more expensive, on average, to move one light rail vehicle than to move one bus. The table shows operating costs per hour for one bus and one light rail vehicle for 15 American cities that have both bus and light rail lines. The data is from the National Transit Database website and it shows that it costs almost twice as much, on average, to move one light rail vehicle per hour versus one bus. The data demonstrates that the cost is $233 per hour for one light rail vehicle versus $122 per hour for one bus.

The table shows a much wider range in the cost of operating light rail vehicles ($124.01 - $451.33 per hour) than buses ($84.61 - $163.96).

Why Does Light Rail Cost More?

There are several reasons why it costs more to operate one light rail vehicle versus one bus. There is the cost of maintaining the track right of way and associated switches and signaling. Second, there is the cost of maintaining the light rail stations and associated parking lots. This includes the cost of employing ticket collectors, security personnel and maintenance workers. Finally, in certain cases, the cost of electricity to operate the trains may be greater than the cost of fuel for buses. This is a trend that is likely to continue in the future. One major Southern California transit agency reported an almost 500 percent increase in operating costs per mile when they replaced natural gas buses with electric buses.

Overall, it is more expensive to operate one light rail vehicle than one bus. Because of this fact, cost-effective use of light rail requires a large passenger demand. This is a demand that only exists in a few American cities, most of which already have extensive rapid transit systems. 

Light Rail Versus Bus Costs for Fifteen American Cities With Both (Source NTD)

City Bus Cost Light Rail Cost

Dallas $122.38 $451.33

Salt Lake $118.24 $124.01

Denver $102.76 $170.18

Sacramento $119.51 $232.00

Los Angeles $127.28 $391.43

Portland, OR $134.39 $187.55

Minneapolis $123.64 $183.82

Phoenix $102.82 $180.35

Baltimore $163.96 $246.73

Philadelphia $141.34 $166.26

Boston $142.96 $216.45

San Diego $84.61 $137.67

Cleveland $126.12 $292.31

Buffalo $114.23 $280.97

Mean $121.87 $232.82

Max $163.96 $451.33

Min $84.61 $124.01

Median $122.38 $216.45

SD $19.50 $90.89

What Is the Passenger Capacity of Different Modes of Transit?

How Much Do Rail Transit Projects Cost to Build and Operate?

How Much Does a Bus Cost to Purchase and Operate?

What Happens to Buses After Their Useful Life Is Over?

Understanding the Difference Between Capital and Operating Funding

Making Money Renovating Distressed Properties for Rent

10 Best Big Cities for College Grads

10 of the Largest Construction Projects in the World

Vehicle Battery and Load Testing

How Long Do Buses and Other Transit Vehicles Last?

What Does a Bus Driver Do?

Test Drive: 2008 Ford Mustang GT

Best Airport and Airline Jobs

How to Build a Wind Power Farm

What Does a Railroad Conductor Do?

What Gasoline Does to a Diesel Engine

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LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies

One of the neverending arguments in the battle between buses (especially bus rapid transit) and light rail is which costs more. From the perspective of capital costs, it is clear that light rail costs more to build than bus rapid transit. This is due to the need for tracks, the electric catenary, electrical substations and other infrastructure that buses do not need. In addition, light rail lines often need their own garages, while bus rapid transit lines can store their buses at existing bus depots.

Operating Costs

In terms of operating costs, it is often argued that light rail is cheaper to operate than buses because the capacity of light rail is so much greater than buses. This allows for fewer light rail trains than buses that are operated along a corridor for the same number of passengers. One light rail train consisting of three 60-feet cars can carry as many people as four and one-half standard buses. Assuming passenger load remains constant, a light rail train that has three cars operating every 10 minutes would need to be replaced by standard buses operating almost every two minutes. In other words, six light rail trains per hour are equal to 27.5 standard buses per hour. If there is enough demand along a corridor to operate buses every two minutes, then a light rail train would have lower operating costs than buses.

How Often Do Light Rail Lines Operate?

Unfortunately, with few exceptions, American cities do not have bus corridors that have sufficient demand to operate buses every two minutes. Instead, cities are choosing to operate their light rail lines as often or more often than existing bus service. Replacing a bus operating every 15 minutes with a two-car light rail train operating every 15 minutes is the equivalent of increasing corridor capacity by 300 percent. A two-car light rail train is the equivalent of three standard buses. While ridership is likely to increase due to the introduction of trains, it is unlikely to increase by 300 percent.

As the table below shows, it is much more expensive, on average, to move one light rail vehicle than to move one bus. The table shows operating costs per hour for one bus and one light rail vehicle for 15 American cities that have both bus and light rail lines. The data is from the National Transit Database website and it shows that it costs almost twice as much, on average, to move one light rail vehicle per hour versus one bus. The data demonstrates that the cost is $233 per hour for one light rail vehicle versus $122 per hour for one bus.

The table shows a much wider range in the cost of operating light rail vehicles ($124.01 - $451.33 per hour) than buses ($84.61 - $163.96).

Why Does Light Rail Cost More?

There are several reasons why it costs more to operate one light rail vehicle versus one bus. There is the cost of maintaining the track right of way and associated switches and signaling. Second, there is the cost of maintaining the light rail stations and associated parking lots. This includes the cost of employing ticket collectors, security personnel and maintenance workers. Finally, in certain cases, the cost of electricity to operate the trains may be greater than the cost of fuel for buses. This is a trend that is likely to continue in the future. One major Southern California transit agency reported an almost 500 percent increase in operating costs per mile when they replaced natural gas buses with electric buses.

Overall, it is more expensive to operate one light rail vehicle than one bus. Because of this fact, cost-effective use of light rail requires a large passenger demand. This is a demand that only exists in a few American cities, most of which already have extensive rapid transit systems. 

Light Rail Versus Bus Costs for Fifteen American Cities With Both (Source NTD)

City Bus Cost Light Rail Cost

Dallas $122.38 $451.33

Salt Lake $118.24 $124.01

Denver $102.76 $170.18

Sacramento $119.51 $232.00

Los Angeles $127.28 $391.43

Portland, OR $134.39 $187.55

Minneapolis $123.64 $183.82

Phoenix $102.82 $180.35

Baltimore $163.96 $246.73

Philadelphia $141.34 $166.26

Boston $142.96 $216.45

San Diego $84.61 $137.67

Cleveland $126.12 $292.31

Buffalo $114.23 $280.97

Mean $121.87 $232.82

Max $163.96 $451.33

Min $84.61 $124.01

Median $122.38 $216.45

SD $19.50 $90.89

What Is the Passenger Capacity of Different Modes of Transit?

How Much Do Rail Transit Projects Cost to Build and Operate?

How Much Does a Bus Cost to Purchase and Operate?

What Happens to Buses After Their Useful Life Is Over?

Understanding the Difference Between Capital and Operating Funding

Making Money Renovating Distressed Properties for Rent

10 Best Big Cities for College Grads

10 of the Largest Construction Projects in the World

Vehicle Battery and Load Testing

How Long Do Buses and Other Transit Vehicles Last?

What Does a Bus Driver Do?

Test Drive: 2008 Ford Mustang GT

Best Airport and Airline Jobs

How to Build a Wind Power Farm

What Does a Railroad Conductor Do?

What Gasoline Does to a Diesel Engine

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies

One of the neverending arguments in the battle between buses (especially bus rapid transit) and light rail is which costs more. From the perspective of capital costs, it is clear that light rail costs more to build than bus rapid transit. This is due to the need for tracks, the electric catenary, electrical substations and other infrastructure that buses do not need. In addition, light rail lines often need their own garages, while bus rapid transit lines can store their buses at existing bus depots.

Operating Costs

In terms of operating costs, it is often argued that light rail is cheaper to operate than buses because the capacity of light rail is so much greater than buses. This allows for fewer light rail trains than buses that are operated along a corridor for the same number of passengers. One light rail train consisting of three 60-feet cars can carry as many people as four and one-half standard buses. Assuming passenger load remains constant, a light rail train that has three cars operating every 10 minutes would need to be replaced by standard buses operating almost every two minutes. In other words, six light rail trains per hour are equal to 27.5 standard buses per hour. If there is enough demand along a corridor to operate buses every two minutes, then a light rail train would have lower operating costs than buses.

How Often Do Light Rail Lines Operate?

Unfortunately, with few exceptions, American cities do not have bus corridors that have sufficient demand to operate buses every two minutes. Instead, cities are choosing to operate their light rail lines as often or more often than existing bus service. Replacing a bus operating every 15 minutes with a two-car light rail train operating every 15 minutes is the equivalent of increasing corridor capacity by 300 percent. A two-car light rail train is the equivalent of three standard buses. While ridership is likely to increase due to the introduction of trains, it is unlikely to increase by 300 percent.

As the table below shows, it is much more expensive, on average, to move one light rail vehicle than to move one bus. The table shows operating costs per hour for one bus and one light rail vehicle for 15 American cities that have both bus and light rail lines. The data is from the National Transit Database website and it shows that it costs almost twice as much, on average, to move one light rail vehicle per hour versus one bus. The data demonstrates that the cost is $233 per hour for one light rail vehicle versus $122 per hour for one bus.

The table shows a much wider range in the cost of operating light rail vehicles ($124.01 - $451.33 per hour) than buses ($84.61 - $163.96).

Why Does Light Rail Cost More?

There are several reasons why it costs more to operate one light rail vehicle versus one bus. There is the cost of maintaining the track right of way and associated switches and signaling. Second, there is the cost of maintaining the light rail stations and associated parking lots. This includes the cost of employing ticket collectors, security personnel and maintenance workers. Finally, in certain cases, the cost of electricity to operate the trains may be greater than the cost of fuel for buses. This is a trend that is likely to continue in the future. One major Southern California transit agency reported an almost 500 percent increase in operating costs per mile when they replaced natural gas buses with electric buses.

Overall, it is more expensive to operate one light rail vehicle than one bus. Because of this fact, cost-effective use of light rail requires a large passenger demand. This is a demand that only exists in a few American cities, most of which already have extensive rapid transit systems. 

Light Rail Versus Bus Costs for Fifteen American Cities With Both (Source NTD)

City Bus Cost Light Rail Cost

Dallas $122.38 $451.33

Salt Lake $118.24 $124.01

Denver $102.76 $170.18

Sacramento $119.51 $232.00

Los Angeles $127.28 $391.43

Portland, OR $134.39 $187.55

Minneapolis $123.64 $183.82

Phoenix $102.82 $180.35

Baltimore $163.96 $246.73

Philadelphia $141.34 $166.26

Boston $142.96 $216.45

San Diego $84.61 $137.67

Cleveland $126.12 $292.31

Buffalo $114.23 $280.97

Mean $121.87 $232.82

Max $163.96 $451.33

Min $84.61 $124.01

Median $122.38 $216.45

SD $19.50 $90.89

One of the neverending arguments in the battle between buses (especially bus rapid transit) and light rail is which costs more. From the perspective of capital costs, it is clear that light rail costs more to build than bus rapid transit. This is due to the need for tracks, the electric catenary, electrical substations and other infrastructure that buses do not need. In addition, light rail lines often need their own garages, while bus rapid transit lines can store their buses at existing bus depots.

Operating Costs

In terms of operating costs, it is often argued that light rail is cheaper to operate than buses because the capacity of light rail is so much greater than buses. This allows for fewer light rail trains than buses that are operated along a corridor for the same number of passengers. One light rail train consisting of three 60-feet cars can carry as many people as four and one-half standard buses. Assuming passenger load remains constant, a light rail train that has three cars operating every 10 minutes would need to be replaced by standard buses operating almost every two minutes. In other words, six light rail trains per hour are equal to 27.5 standard buses per hour. If there is enough demand along a corridor to operate buses every two minutes, then a light rail train would have lower operating costs than buses.

How Often Do Light Rail Lines Operate?

Unfortunately, with few exceptions, American cities do not have bus corridors that have sufficient demand to operate buses every two minutes. Instead, cities are choosing to operate their light rail lines as often or more often than existing bus service. Replacing a bus operating every 15 minutes with a two-car light rail train operating every 15 minutes is the equivalent of increasing corridor capacity by 300 percent. A two-car light rail train is the equivalent of three standard buses. While ridership is likely to increase due to the introduction of trains, it is unlikely to increase by 300 percent.

As the table below shows, it is much more expensive, on average, to move one light rail vehicle than to move one bus. The table shows operating costs per hour for one bus and one light rail vehicle for 15 American cities that have both bus and light rail lines. The data is from the National Transit Database website and it shows that it costs almost twice as much, on average, to move one light rail vehicle per hour versus one bus. The data demonstrates that the cost is $233 per hour for one light rail vehicle versus $122 per hour for one bus.

The table shows a much wider range in the cost of operating light rail vehicles ($124.01 - $451.33 per hour) than buses ($84.61 - $163.96).

Why Does Light Rail Cost More?

There are several reasons why it costs more to operate one light rail vehicle versus one bus. There is the cost of maintaining the track right of way and associated switches and signaling. Second, there is the cost of maintaining the light rail stations and associated parking lots. This includes the cost of employing ticket collectors, security personnel and maintenance workers. Finally, in certain cases, the cost of electricity to operate the trains may be greater than the cost of fuel for buses. This is a trend that is likely to continue in the future. One major Southern California transit agency reported an almost 500 percent increase in operating costs per mile when they replaced natural gas buses with electric buses.

Overall, it is more expensive to operate one light rail vehicle than one bus. Because of this fact, cost-effective use of light rail requires a large passenger demand. This is a demand that only exists in a few American cities, most of which already have extensive rapid transit systems. 

Light Rail Versus Bus Costs for Fifteen American Cities With Both (Source NTD)

City Bus Cost Light Rail Cost

Dallas $122.38 $451.33

Salt Lake $118.24 $124.01

Denver $102.76 $170.18

Sacramento $119.51 $232.00

Los Angeles $127.28 $391.43

Portland, OR $134.39 $187.55

Minneapolis $123.64 $183.82

Phoenix $102.82 $180.35

Baltimore $163.96 $246.73

Philadelphia $141.34 $166.26

Boston $142.96 $216.45

San Diego $84.61 $137.67

Cleveland $126.12 $292.31

Buffalo $114.23 $280.97

Mean $121.87 $232.82

Max $163.96 $451.33

Min $84.61 $124.01

Median $122.38 $216.45

SD $19.50 $90.89

  • What Is the Passenger Capacity of Different Modes of Transit?

  • How Much Do Rail Transit Projects Cost to Build and Operate?

  • How Much Does a Bus Cost to Purchase and Operate?

  • What Happens to Buses After Their Useful Life Is Over?

  • Understanding the Difference Between Capital and Operating Funding

  • Making Money Renovating Distressed Properties for Rent

  • 10 Best Big Cities for College Grads

  • 10 of the Largest Construction Projects in the World

  • Vehicle Battery and Load Testing

  • How Long Do Buses and Other Transit Vehicles Last?

  • What Does a Bus Driver Do?

  • Test Drive: 2008 Ford Mustang GT

  • Best Airport and Airline Jobs

  • How to Build a Wind Power Farm

  • What Does a Railroad Conductor Do?

  • What Gasoline Does to a Diesel Engine

What Is the Passenger Capacity of Different Modes of Transit?

What Is the Passenger Capacity of Different Modes of Transit?

How Much Do Rail Transit Projects Cost to Build and Operate?

How Much Do Rail Transit Projects Cost to Build and Operate?

How Much Does a Bus Cost to Purchase and Operate?

How Much Does a Bus Cost to Purchase and Operate?

What Happens to Buses After Their Useful Life Is Over?

What Happens to Buses After Their Useful Life Is Over?

Understanding the Difference Between Capital and Operating Funding

Understanding the Difference Between Capital and Operating Funding

Making Money Renovating Distressed Properties for Rent

Making Money Renovating Distressed Properties for Rent

10 Best Big Cities for College Grads

10 Best Big Cities for College Grads

10 of the Largest Construction Projects in the World

10 of the Largest Construction Projects in the World

Vehicle Battery and Load Testing

Vehicle Battery and Load Testing

How Long Do Buses and Other Transit Vehicles Last?

How Long Do Buses and Other Transit Vehicles Last?

What Does a Bus Driver Do?

What Does a Bus Driver Do?

Test Drive: 2008 Ford Mustang GT

Test Drive: 2008 Ford Mustang GT

Best Airport and Airline Jobs

Best Airport and Airline Jobs

How to Build a Wind Power Farm

How to Build a Wind Power Farm

What Does a Railroad Conductor Do?

What Does a Railroad Conductor Do?

What Gasoline Does to a Diesel Engine

What Gasoline Does to a Diesel Engine

Home

Entertainment

Careers

Activities

Humor

About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy

LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

Home

Home

Entertainment

Careers

Activities

Humor

About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy

  • About Us

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  • Careers

  • Privacy Policy

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  • EU Privacy

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  • Careers

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  • Humor

LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies