Pricing systems analysis of DRT systems

Abstract

Flexible transport systems (or Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) systems) are becoming more and more popular in the sector of public transportation. The reason for this is mainly the economic sustainability of these systems which is reached by minimising the blank routes and using the capacities in a highly effective way. DRT systems use modern minibuses which have better conditions in emission and environmental pollution than the old vehicles of operating Hungarian public transport services. The aim of this study is to examine the opportunities of pricing regimes used in DRT systems. Firstly the conventional pricing methods (average and marginal cost based pricing) will be reviewed than the new systems coming from their mixing. In the study the structure of DRT systems was similar to “dial-a-ride” systems which aimed to handle the highest level of flexibility.