The Spatial Effects of High Speed Rail on Intermediate Cities in China – A Case Study of Beijing-Shanghai Express Railway

Abstract

Based on case studies of Beijing-Shanghai express railway, this study tries to reveal the spatial effect of high speed rail on urban internal space at the local level. At first, development of high speed rail in China and the Beijing-Shanghai express railway are introduced briefly, and then the general mechanism and special challenges are discussed in detail as to high speed rail’s spatial impacts on intermediate cities. Furthermore, potential spatial developments are analyzed with the local backgrounds. At last, This study concluded: (1) accessibility and land rent are bases for high speed rail station’s spatial impacts, while locations, connections, station capacity and functions being driving factors for spatial interactions; (2) it should be necessary to balance node-place functions of high speed rail stations based on an evolutionary mode; (3) many typical characteristics for station’s development could be observed, especially in terms of urban spatial expansion and reconstruction.