eurkm

EURkm is a unit of measure used in transport economics to express the monetary cost of moving freight over distance. By definition, one EURkm equals the cost in euros of transporting one tonne of goods by one kilometre. In practice, it is equivalent to euros per tonne-kilometre (EUR/tkm) and is used to quantify the cost intensity of freight movement across routes and modes.

Calculation and interpretation: EURkm is calculated by dividing the total transport expenditure for a shipment or network by the total tonne-kilometres moved. It provides a single metric to compare economic efficiency across modes (road, rail, sea, air) and routes. Lower EURkm indicates lower cost per tonne-kilometre, aiding comparisons of pricing, routes, and infrastructure performance.

Applications: It is used in cost-benefit analyses of infrastructure projects, pricing strategies for freight services, and benchmarking programs. Analysts may report EURkm for different corridors to identify the most cost-effective modes and to monitor changes over time.

Origins and status: The term has appeared in academic and policy discussions in Europe as a simple way to present transport costs on a distance basis. It is not a formal international standard, and definitions may vary between studies, particularly regarding which cost components are included (operational costs, energy, taxes, subsidies).

Limitations: Because EURkm aggregates diverse cost components and is mode-specific, comparisons should be contextualized with explicit methodological notes. It is most informative when used alongside other metrics such as EUR/tkm, energy intensity, and capacity utilization.

See also: tonne-kilometre, euro, transport economics, cost-benefit analysis.