Typical benefits include shorter queuing times, cheaper container unloading, longer opening hours and higher capacity utilisation.
The cubic and tonnage capacity per train, together with higher average speed (may mean lower requirement of rolling stock for a certain amount of transport needs) drive both efficiency and higher capacity utilisation, since high fixed capital or 'personnel' costs per train contribute significantly to reducing the operational cost of a service.
Geothermal is a steady source of energy (unlike windpower), has very high capacity-utilisation rates, zero fuel costs and near-zero greenhouse-gas emissions.
As a result, plants are running at higher capacity-utilisation rates and making better use of their fuel.
Companies working in a collaboration are able to achieve higher vehicle capacity utilisation and reduced empty running, resulting in lower costs and improved sustainability through reduced emissions and congestion.
Use of trains and vehicles with higher capacity: higher utilisation of existing trains, longer trains, higher and wider gauge, higher axle load and metre load.
With prices and capacity utilisation high, the big Sino-foreign joint ventures are making money hand over fist, so they are ramping up capacity (see chart 2).
The latest World Economic Outlook from the International Monetary Fund noted: 'A surge in unemployment, high household debt, low capacity utilisation, the slowdown in advanced economies, and substantial real exchange-rate appreciation are making for a hesitant recovery.' The IMF is forecasting growth of 3.4% in 2011 and 3.6% in 2012.
Capacity utilisation is high across the region; outside China, investment as a share of GDP is historically low; company balance-sheets are stronger and real interest rates are low.
