Pricing commercial train path requests based on societal costs

Abderrahman Ait Ali, Jennifer Warg and Jonas Eliasson ()
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Abderrahman Ait-Ali

Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 2020, vol. 132, issue C, 452-464

Abstract: On deregulated railway markets, efficient capacity allocation is important. We study the case where commercial trains and publicly controlled traffic (“commuter trains”) use the same railway infrastructure and hence compete for capacity. We develop a method that can be used by an infrastructure manager trying to allocate capacity in a socially efficient way. The method calculates the loss of societal benefits incurred by changing the commuter train timetable to accommodate a commercial train path request, and based on this calculates a reservation price for the train path request. If the commercial operator’s willingness-to-pay for the train path exceeds the loss of societal benefits, its request is approved. The calculation of these benefits takes into account changes in commuter train passengers’ travel times, waiting times, transfers and crowding, and changes in operating costs for the commuter train operator(s). The method is implemented in a microscopic simulation program, which makes it possible to test the robustness and feasibility of timetable alternatives.

Keywords: Train timetables; Train conflicts; Capacity pricing; Railway capacity; Capacity allocation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Working Paper: Pricing commercial train path requests based on societal costs (2019)
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DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2019.12.005

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