The territorial impact of high-speed rail on urban land development

High-speed rail (HSR) has been regarded as one of the key solutions to reduce regional disparities and promote cohesion. Meanwhile, uneven distribution of HSR service is thought to precipitate new disparities to the territory, e.g. places with HSR vs without HSR connection, central vs periphery areas along HSR corridors etc. Taking a combined social and spatial perspective, this paper attempts to discuss on the cohesion implications of HSR by analyzing land development impact at various territorial levels. We find: (1) at regional level, short distance HSR corridors are playing a pivotal role in metropolitan formation and regional cohesion; (2) at city level, there is a substantial possibility that HSR causes urban expansion and polycentricity; (3) at station-area level, HSR may threaten micro-level spatial cohesion. Eventually, directions for further research, and policy implications for (inter)national planners, local authorities, and private investors are proposed. • Short distance HSR lines are playing a pivotal role in metropolitan formation and regional cohesion. • HSR is very likely to cause urban expansion and polycentricity. • At station-area level, HSR may threaten micro-level spatial cohesion. • Local municipal fiscal condition should be seriously investigated before the decision-making of HSR deployment.