Pricing principles in rail transport in terms of reform

Abstract

The first aim to analyze the system of factors taken into account in determining railway tariffs and pricing problems on the railways of Ukraine in modern conditions. The second aim is to develop pricing principles for railway transport services of Ukraine, which will ensure the achievement of the purposes of industry pricing policies, and provide for the creation of new effective approaches to pricing.  Methods. To solve the problem existing pricing principles have been analyzed in the work and drawbacks in current approaches have been identified. New guidelines have been developed to satisfy not only the railways needs adequate funding, but also in the aspect of ensuring the economic security of the state as a whole. Findings. The most important principles for the building a new and effective pricing system have been identified; new principles, taking into account the current process of reforming the industry, and under conditions of growing competition from other modes of transport were justified. Originality. The system of principles setting railway tariffs in restructuring the railway transport was improved, which includes nine principles (transparency and predictability, non-discriminatory access to infrastructure equivalence and effectiveness, taking into account transaction costs, consumer demand and local characteristics, scientific validity and deregulation of tariffs), which will increase the effectiveness and competitiveness of rail transport services in the market. Practical value. The use of this system of pricing principles will create an effective, scientifically grounded methodical approach to build a flexible and dynamic, demand-driven railway transport tariffs.