Evaluating Impacts of Transport Infrastructure Development on Freight Modal Share

Abstract

This study is to evaluate the impacts of transport infrastructure development on freight modal share. A national freight transport model was developed and used to evaluate the impacts. Scenarios tested were based on the Thai government's infrastructure plan and pricing policy. The study found that transport infrastructure development with pricing policy could achieve significantly modal shift from road to the alternatives. However, road transport share is still rather high. In order to achieve higher modal shift, rail network should be significantly expanded. Freight rail speed needs to be increased. Inland water way should also be expanded. Connection hubs between road and rail, and between road and inland water port are the key issue of modal shift. Moreover, pricing policy needs to be set up appropriately to encourage the modal shift and also to reflect externality costs.