Restructuring Effects of High Speed Rail

In a conventional intercity rail system (A) the rail station of each single town can be serviced, but each stop involves delays. Express and local train services are often a strategy to mitigate this problem. The construction of a high speed rail line (B) usually follow a more direct path and is associated with two main changes:

• The first concerns the abandonment of the intercity rail line and several of the stations it services. This does not necessarily imply that the rail line or the stations are shut down, but that they are not longer used for intercity transport. They can still be used for local commuting, such as feeder services to the high speed rail stations.
• The second change concerns either the upgrade of existing stations to accommodate high speed services or the construction of new stations, often at the edge of the city, which creates new growth poles.