RAIL MASS TRANSIT IN DEVELOPING CITIES - THE TRANSPORT AND ROAD RESEARCH LABORATORY STUDY . RAIL MASS SYSTEMS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONFERENCE ORGANISED BY THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS, LONDON, OCTOBER 9-10, 1989

The Overseas Development Administration (ODA) has sponsored a research study to examine the following topics: (1) financial and economic review of metros; (2) project appraisal; and (3) project costs. This paper summarises the findings. The Study Team went to 21 developing cities and collected data which was analysed on a strategic transport evaluation model. They enquired into the reasons why people wanted metros and noted a widespread misconception that the metro would cure traffic congestion. The Study found much to praise in the engineering and operation of the Third World metros, but much to criticise in their planning and financial management. It concluded that metros - in developing cities at least - cannot be financially viable but can give good economic returns in the right conditions, which it endeavoured to spell out in broad terms. The Study noted the strong connection between the metro and the growth of the city centre; it concluded that very large cities must either build metros or see the growth of their centres frustrated by inaccessibility, with corresponding growth diverted to suburban centres. (Author/TRRL)