The original goal of high-speed rail (HSR) was to link large metropolitan regions 400-600 km apart. Recently, however, intermediate 'ex-metropolitan' HSR stations have also been created in suburban areas/cities within metropolitan regions (up to 100 km from the metropolitan centre). This study takes a close look at nine such 'ex-metropolitan' stations around Madrid (Guadalajara, Segovia, and Toledo), London (Stratford, Ebbsfleet, and Ashford), and Paris (Charles-de-Gaulle, Marne-la-Vallée -Chessy, and Massy), to understand their territorial and local impacts and draw possible lessons for the California High Speed Rail project.