A strong enthusiasm has swept European politicians and transport planners in connection with the possibilities opened by the new railway technologies and the speeds it offers. New patterns of mobility are emerging, and all regions want to be served by the fast trains, as they feel that this type of service might become a strong comparative advantage for the attraction and location of economic activities. Naturally, the costs involved in the deployment of the infrastructure and provision of the service are such that only a fraction of the regions and urban agglomerations in Europe may be able to offer a minimum of economic justification for those costs in terms of the potential demand they generate. This paper addresses some questions concerning the long-term effects of this new type of European infrastructure, namely the shift in the economies of scale functions for urban agglomerations, the potential changes in the occupation of territories, and the rising strains between centre and periphery.
Abstract