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

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  • Guoyong Yue

    (School of Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
    Henan Railway Construction & Investment Group Co., Ltd., Zhengzhou 450046, China)

  • Mingxuan Zhao

    (School of Traffic and Transportation, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
    Key Laboratory of Transport Industry of Big Data Application Technologies for Comprehensive Transport, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China)

  • Su Zhao

    (School of Traffic and Transportation, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
    Integrated Transport Research Center of China, Beijing 100044, China)

  • Liwei Xie

    (Henan Railway Construction & Investment Logistics Group Co., Ltd., Zhengzhou 450046, China)

  • Jia Feng

    (Key Laboratory of Transport Industry of Big Data Application Technologies for Comprehensive Transport, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
    Integrated Transport Research Center of China, Beijing 100044, China)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Guoyong Yue & Mingxuan Zhao & Su Zhao & Liwei Xie & Jia Feng, 2025. "Pricing Strategy for High-Speed Rail Freight Services: Considering Perspectives of High-Speed Rail and Logistics Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:14:p:6555-:d:1704367
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    References listed on IDEAS

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