IGU 2024: Geographies of high speed rail

Dr Chia-Lin Chen, Professor Andrew Goetz

Session abstract

The advancement of high-speed rail systems and their influence on various aspects of society and geography have been profound. Since the inauguration of the world's first bullet train in Japan in 1964, modern high-speed rail lines and networks have been operated and under construction in around 20 countries in Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and North America. China alone has contributed to around three quarters within just the past 15 years. The expansion of high-speed rail shows no signs of slowing down. Yet, investing and planning the costly high-speed rail remain contentious as their impacts vary widely depending on local conditions and contexts. The opportunities and challenges are compounded by issues such as spatial disparities, evolving work patterns post-Covid-19, climate change concerns, energy crises, and financial constraints.

In light of these developments, this session invites contributions to delve into the geographical effects of high-speed rail across different regions of the world. Research topics can encompass any or several of the following areas:

Historical evolution and geopolitics of HSR

Planning and design of high-speed rail networks

High-speed stations and surrounding areas

Diverse approaches to evaluating high-speed rail investment

Interactions between high-speed rail and other modes of transport

Economic geography and urban/regional development

Environmental impacts and sustainability

Social equity and justice