In the past years, the construction of high-speed networks has become one of the most important step for developing transport modes: the European states which already have a high-speed transport system extend their network, those which do not benefit from such a network, try to built one, the same situation being also valid for the countries in America and Asia, which focus on the development of high-speed infrastructure and plan their new lines. Reduced travel time and costs for transport users are the main starting points for the development of high-speed lines in regions and cities.
The decision making for high-speed line construction or extension will contribute to increasing the economy and mobility of regions and cities. The execution of such lines has a positive impact on the image of a city as well. First of all, it can determine a significant change through the contribution it has on the development of new economic structures, and secondly, the image of the regions is changed by the new values, such as the modernisation or innovation offered by high-speed trains, high-speed transport facilities and advertising spaces, which should be mentioned in the case of most cities connected to high-speed lines. We can take as examples the cities of Nantes, Vendome (France), Cordoba (Spain) or Fulda (Germany), which use their connection to HSR intensely in order to introduce themselves as modern, innovative cities open to tourists and companies.
Another impact of the connection to the high-speed network consists in a different use of the space between cities, especially the one in the area of railway stations. But this depends on several different factors: there are the effects generated by the construction of new railway stations and of free spaces in the neighbourhood, where the surface is used by industry, offices, ser-vices or trade. On the other hand, the use of spaces has changed with the development or transformation of a city’s existing areas. For instance, in Cordoba, the construction of a railway tunnel has provided the space for the development of a new district in the centre of the city.
In case of changing the region of lines, “results show a visible and real development of cities, most of which want to have a connection to the high-speed network if they don’t have one already”, shows the study “HSR – Instrument for Regional Development” – elaborated by DB International and UIC.
In terms of “image”, HSR determines either its improvement or a radical change. Before having a connection to the high-speed infrastructure, the city of Puertollano in Spain has been dominated by the coal mines or the chemical industry. Currently, its image has changed, its economy being characterised by green energy and factories running with innovative systems. The city of Fulda (Germany) has been transformed from a city dependent on the textile industry into a location important for congresses, due to its central position on the map of Germany and the optimal accessibility to the railway transport at national level.
Cities differ when choosing the use of spaces from one country to another. Spain, Japan or Germany focus on different types of new evolutions: if Germany focuses on the construction of hotels and spaces for congresses, Spain focuses on the development of residential areas. By contrast, France creates new cities and districts, builds hotels, residential areas for commercial activities (Lyon or Lille).
Therefore, cities need high-speed lines which are promising regarding the positive effects brought to their design, determining in turn the space development and the reorientation towards a sustainable transport.
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