Introduction to the special issue The regional and urban effects of high-speed trains

Abstract

High-speed trains could be used to solve two different accessibility problems. In the first case, where a point to point link is dominant, they are a potential substitute for air travelling. In the second case it links together many cities and, hence, creates a new type of region or corridor with a high interregional accessibility. One important hypothesis for the discussion in this paper is the degree to which cities that are linked together into a band of cities by means of a high-speed train connection are transformed to an extended functional region or in other words an integrated corridor economy. This paper particularly examines economic integration in a corridor economy in the short, medium and long term. In considering the short-term perspective we discuss not only the integration of goods and service markets but also the integration of labour markets and markets for shopping, private services and leisure activities. The discussion of the medium term perspective is concentrated on the relocation of households and firms within a high-speed train corridor. To study the long-term integration effects of a high-speed train corridor we maintain that the analysis must be conducted using a genuinely dynamic model for the specialisation of production and, hence, for trade with and transport of goods and services and consequently transport of people.

Efficiency and spatial equity impacts of high-speed rail extensions in urban areas

“…The opening of a HSR station brings enhanced accessibility and fosters changes in the configuration of the land-use system of the urban area near the station and its immediate surroundings (Blum, Haynes, & Karlsson, 1997;Urena, Menerault, & Garmendia, 2009;van den Berg & Pol, 1998). The spatial organization changes to take advantage of the increased attractiveness of the newly-connected location, in a dynamic process where involving simultaneous and multilevel impacts in the economic, social and environmental spheres (Banister & Berechman, 2003;Vickerman & Ulied, 2009).…”

“…These motivations, if considered in terms of the accessibility problem the HSR is intended to solve, can be broadly classified into two categories (Blum et al, 1997). On the one hand, the HSR service may be intended primarily to improve long distance and international connections, thus acting as a substitute for, or in combination with, air travel (Givoni, 2006;Roman, Espino, & Martin, 2010).…”

“…On the one hand, the HSR service may be intended primarily to improve long distance and international connections, thus acting as a substitute for, or in combination with, air travel (Givoni, 2006;Roman, Espino, & Martin, 2010). On the other hand, the HSR may be designed to promote high interregional accessibility by linking together cities in an "integrated corridor economy" (Blum et al, 1997;Martinez & Givoni, 2009;Urena, Garmendia, Coronado, Vickerman, & Romero, 2010;Urena et al, 2009). These two categories are derived from the work of Blum et al (1997), in which HSR stations which provide good connexion with airports are differentiated from those which are primarily designed to improve regional travel (train/car).…”

Approximating actual flows in physical infrastructure networks: the case of the Yangtze River Delta high-speed railway network

“…High-speed railway (HSR) travel plays an important role in facilitating individual movements, thus enabling the formation of larger labor markets in regions and fostering wholesale regional integration (Zheng, Kahn, 2013;Blum et al, 1997;Chen, 2012). Since the first HSR 2 in China became operational in 2007, China's HSR network has been growing rapidly.…”

Local development impact assessment for a high speed rail system: a Taiwan study

“…Regarding the regional scale, Blum et al [1] found that HSR has a positive effect on connecting regions, integrating regional development and eliminating regional discrepancies in development. Sasaki et al [2] concluded that the Shinkansen was a catalyst for regional development.…”