Abstract
A crucial question with investments in large scale public transport is whether the expected benefits are high enough and spread over a sufficient number of users to cover necessary costs and to get public support. In order to obtain insight into the benefits and drawbacks of such a system it is necessary to map all socio-economic aspects which play a role. This paper provides a framework for the evaluation of the public benefits of a highgrade urban rail system. A conceptual model is presented in which the full range of possible effects, the relevant actors and the different dimensions (time and space) related to these effects are distinguished. (A)