Examining the factors impacting the high-speed rail accessibility

Abstract

Since the introduction of the first dedicated High-Speed Rail (HSR) route in 1964 in Japan, the system has captured the attention of countries worldwide as a safe and efficient long-distance transportation option. The literature surrounding High-Speed Rail systems has extensively investigated various dimensions of this subject. Particularly, HSR systems have been analysed within the realm of transport geography with a focus on the enhanced accessibility they bring to cities within the network. Many existing studies tend to assess accessibility changes by exclusively focusing on the travel duration between stations. They assume that HSR systems affect accessibility beyond the immediate vicinity of stations, but do not actually quantify or test this. This assumption might result in an overestimation of the spatial impact of accessibility. To addresses this issue, this thesis adopts a door-to-door journey time approach that considers intra and inter city part of the journey simultaneously.
Through a door-to-door journey time approach, the empirical evaluations carried out in the research provide insights into the implications of station location on inter-city accessibility. By analysing station location scenarios in real-world contexts, the study reveals the trade-offs between central and peripheral station options, emphasising the significance of access time to the station in determining overall accessibility benefits. Moreover, the research assesses how the integration level of new HSR stations with existing transport infrastructure influences accessibility outcomes. By examining scenarios that involve both construction of new stations and integration with established ones, the study highlights the importance of careful planning to ensure equal distribution of accessibility benefits across regions. This research used a case study of the High speed two corridor in the UK to reveal the diverse impacts of different design strategies on inter-city accessibility of HSR.
The results based on the examination of station location reveals that central stations, often associated with dense urban cores, offer proximity to transit connections, thereby reducing intra-city travel times. Conversely, peripheral stations, while providing accessibility to outlying areas, entail longer overall journey times due to increased distance from urban centres. Improving the
current central station rather than building a new peripheral HSR station can be preferable in terms of average travel times, and also the expected construction costs. In assessing the integration level of stations, despite the similarity in average journey time benefits between the two scenarios, spatial representation highlights which regions experience either gains or losses in terms of accessibility improvements. This study suggests that the accessibility benefits of High-Speed Rail (HSR) vary spatially, necessitating a more comprehensive evaluation. Therefore, policymakers and transportation planners should consider the spatial impact when assessing the benefits of new investments.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Emine Tugba Yazici: orcid.org/0009-0002-3926-3636

ORCID for Simon Blainey: orcid.org/0000-0003-4249-8110

ORCID for Marcus Young: orcid.org/0000-0003-4627-1116

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