Research and analysis

Transport appraisal and cost damping

This research analyses different approaches to cost damping used in transport modelling.

• From: Department for Transport
• Published: 30 October 2025

Documents

Essay on cost damping and transport user benefits

PDF, 668 KB, 57 pages

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Details

Cost damping in transport modelling is when passenger sensitivity to the cost of a journey decreases as the journey’s length or overall cost increases.

This research analyses different approaches to cost damping and compares them with economic appraisal techniques, such as the ‘rule of a half’.

John Bates Services carried out this research on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Published 30 October 2025