Passenger Ticket Pricing Strategy and Clearing System Design for Rail Transit with Multiple Operating Entities and Multiple System Modes in Metropolitan Area

Objective Metropolitan area rail transit lines with different operating entities and different system modes differ in passenger capacity division and operating cost verification, and there is a need for differentiated pricing. In order to promote the integration of four networks (mainline railways, intercity railways, suburban railways, and urban rail transit) in the metropolitan area, the ticket pricing strategy and the clearing system for metropolitan area rail transit under the condition of multiple operating entities and multiple modes (hereinafter referred to as "two-multiple") should be studied. Method Based on the characteristics and difficulties of passenger ticket pricing and ticket clearing in metropolitan area rail transit lines under two-multiple conditions, three pricing models are proposed: a unified fare rate model for the entire network, an OD (origin/destination) differentiated pricing model, and a differentiated pricing model based on OD and entry/exit time, and matching ticket clearing processes are formulated respectively. On this basis, three design schemes for the ticket clearing system are proposed to meet the different needs of the ticket clearing system of metropolitan rail transit line network under two-multiple conditions. Result & Conclusion Appropriate pricing models and clearing methods should be adopted in accordance with the different development stages of the metropolitan rail transit network. The proper design of clearing system should be selected according to the characteristics of operating entity and the operation/management plan of the metropolitan rail transit network.