Highlights The development of high-speed rail in North-west Europe is assessed. The impact on intermediate towns and cities is evaluated. Poorer levels of service are shown to lead to smaller potential economic impacts. And there has been little evidence of greater cross-border integration. The rail regulatory framework and local planning systems contribute to smaller impacts.

    Abstract High-speed rail has developed both nationally and internationally in Europe as a successful alternative to both air and road over distances of 400–600km. Inter-city traffic, especially between the major metropolitan areas in North-west Europe has benefitted greatly from the investment in this network. This paper explores two issues: the impact on the intermediate areas between these major metropolitan areas and the creation of potential cross-border inter-regional services. The evidence shows how both levels of service and potential economic impacts have been much less pronounced in these intermediate areas. Such areas have been affected both by a failure to see greatly improved direct access to major cities other than within their own countries and a lack of new cross-border inter-regional services. The paper argues that the creation of the high-speed rail TEN-T has not met the primary objectives of reducing regional disparities in accessibility or reducing the effect of national borders on regional integration. To achieve this requires not just infrastructure provision but an appropriate regulatory framework for service provision and accompanying measures at the local level.


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    Title :

    High-speed rail and regional development: the case of intermediate stations


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2014-01-01


    Size :

    9 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English