Access pricing and regulation in international rail transport

Pre-print, Working paper: We study a model of non-cooperative interaction between two infrastructure managers (IMs) for international rail transport. We compare equilibrium access charges when the IMs are unregulated and regulated. We show that cooperation among IMs eliminates double-marginalization to the benefit of passengers and IMs. We also show that the delegation of access charge collection with adequate transfers allows the two IMs to reach efficiency, both in the unregulated and regulated régimes. We study the effect of differences in regulatory policies, and analyze the effect of monopoly power of train operators and competition among high speed and low speed train routes on access charges.

Author(s)

Francis Bloch, Philippe Gagnepain

Date of publication
  • 2025
Keywords JEL
L43 L51 L92
Keywords
  • International Rail Transport
  • Access Charges
  • International Regulation
  • Infrastructure Managers
Internal reference
  • PSE Working Papers n°2025-05
Pages
  • 27 p.
Version
  • 1