Access prices for users of infrastructures that constitute a natural monopoly are generally based on the concept of incremental short-term costs. The definition of this cost standard in practice is complex: assumptions have to be made on different types of costs (variable costs, fixed costs, etc.), on volume developments, on exogenous parameters (e.g. technological development) and on the consistency between current and future costs.

As part of this project, Swiss Economics advised the New Zealand Ministry of Transport on the conceptual design and implementation of the track access charge system for rail transport with a focus on the competitiveness of rail freight transport. Swiss Economics' services included the development of the conceptual methods and the review of the cost modelling for the actual implementation of track access charges.