Work

Pricing Strategy for High-Speed Rail Freight Services: Considering Perspectives of High-Speed Rail and Logistics Companies

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: It is well known that there is a significant conflict of interest between high-speed rail (HSR) operators and logistics companies. This study proposes an HSR freight pricing strategy based on a multi-objective optimization framework and a freight mode splitting model based on the Logit model. A utility function was constructed to quantify the comprehensive utility of different modes of transportation by integrating five key influencing factors: economy, speed, convenience, stability, and environmental sustainability. A bi-objective optimization model was developed to balance the cost of the logistics with the benefits of high-speed rail operators to achieve a win–win situation. The model is solved by the TOPSIS method, and its effectiveness is verified by the freight case of the Zhengzhou–Chongqing high-speed railway in China. The results of this study showed that (1) HSR has advantages in medium-distance freight transportation; (2) increasing government subsidies can help improve the market competitiveness of high-speed rail in freight transportation. This research provides theoretical foundations and methodological support for optimizing HSR freight pricing mechanisms and improving multimodal transport efficiency.

Source: Sustainability

DOI: 10.3390/su17146555

Authors: Guoyong Yue, Mingxuan Zhao, Su Zhao, Liwei Xie, Jia Feng

Institutions: Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Beijing Jiaotong University

Language: English

Topic: Transport and Economic Policies

Subfield: Strategy and Management

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896