Title: Characteristics and competitive implications of air–rail links in Germany

Authors: Andreas Eichinger

Addresses: Economics, National and International Economic Policy, German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer, Freiherr-vom-Stein-Str. 2, 67346 Speyer, Germany

Abstract: This paper highlights and analyses the ambivalent competitive relationship between air and rail passenger transport. Whereas the issue of competition between the two modes is only briefly addressed the paper focuses on air-rail links, which represent a good example of cooperation between air and rail operators. In the course of the paper, actual service quality of air-rail links and corresponding offers in Germany are described. In essence, the paper argues that air-rail links could on the one hand pose as a means to intensify competition between incumbent airlines and foreign competitors and on the other hand as a means to cement the market share of participating airlines and airports.

Keywords: air–rail links; airport rail links; competition; cooperation; high-speed rail; low-cost carriers; multi-modal interchange nodes; rail connection quality; secondary airports; Germany; air transport; rail transport; intermodal transportation.

DOI: 10.1504/WRITR.2007.016274

World Review of Intermodal Transportation Research, 2007 Vol.1 No.3, pp.264 - 285

Published online: 13 Dec 2007 *

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