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.
Yue et al. (Fri,) studied this question.