Game Analysis of Different Transportation Modes in a Corridor Considering Carbon Emission Costs

This study aims to elucidate the implications of carbon peak and carbon neutrality targets on corridor logistics, with a focus on the burgeoning high-speed rail express sector. Acknowledging carbon emissions taxation as an integral component of transportation costs, it examines the competitive dynamics among four cargo transport modes: high-speed rail (HSR), conventional rail, aviation, and road transport. Within a strategic game framework, carriers are analyzed based on freight rates, speed, safety, reliability, and convenience to assess their utility. A dynamic game model and a solution approach are developed, aiming to optimize freight-related variables, maximize carriers’ generalized profits, and enhance shippers’ utility. Empirical validation is provided through case studies in Xi’an and Lanzhou, northwest China, affirming the model’s efficacy. The findings reveal the strong competitive edge of the high-speed rail express in the corridor, offering valuable insights for carrier pricing strategies, emission tax rate setting, and macro-policy adjustments in the transport sector.