Spatial Structure Evolution and Economic Benefits of Rapidly Expanding the High-Speed Rail Network in Developing Regions: A Case Study in Western China

Abstract

High-speed rail (HSR) is an important form of transportation that affects the economic development of the regional spatial structure. However, there is less discussion about the impact of economically underdeveloped regions and the rapid construction of HSR on the region. This study uses a spatial econometric model to explore whether a rapidly formed high-speed rail network with changes in the network structure can bring economic effects based on the spatio-temporal panel data on high-speed rail construction and economic development in western China from 2015 to 2020. First, data of the daily departures between high-speed rail cities were used to analyze the western high-speed rail network’s spatial and temporal evolution characteristics. Second, we analyzed the changes in the centrality, external and internal connectivity, and transfer potential of the economic gap of the western HSR network. Finally, we analyzed the different economic effects of the HSR network structure by combining the Cobb–Douglas production function with the spatial econometric model. The conclusions are as follows: (1) The HSR network in western China is dense at the intra-provincial HSR network; then it expands along the cross-provincial region; and is gradually embedded in the national HSR network, forming a figure-8-shaped spatial structure. (2) In the rapid expansion and densification of the HSR network in western China, connectivity takes precedence, and dominance and control are then increased. The external connectivity of the western HSR city network develops first and shows fluctuating growth, while the internal connectivity improves relatively slowly. (3) The connectivity, convenience of transit, transshipment capacity, and internal and external connection structure of the HSR network all contribute to the economic development of western cities. The transfer potential of economic gaps is detrimental to their economic development but has a positive effect on adjacent cities.