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Evaluating the Impact of China’s Rail Network Expansions on Local Accessibility: A Market Potential Approach

Author

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  • Wenjie Wu

    (Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK)

  • Yutian Liang

    (Center of Integrated Geographic Information Analysis, School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China)

  • Di Wu

    (Center of Integrated Geographic Information Analysis, School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China)

Abstract

This paper uses a market potential approach to examine the evolution of the rail transport network of China and its spatial distributional impacts on local accessibility, with a particular focus on high-speed rail improvements. Accessibility is measured by using a “market potential” function that was derived from the general equilibrium model of the economic geography literature, and is empirically calculated based on Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques. A key finding, albeit from a highly stylized model, is that rail improvements may help raise territorial polarizing patterns across counties. The results point to the profound implications of railroad network expansion on the accessibility dynamics in periphery regions relative to core regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenjie Wu & Yutian Liang & Di Wu, 2016. "Evaluating the Impact of China’s Rail Network Expansions on Local Accessibility: A Market Potential Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(6), pages 1-11, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:6:p:512-:d:70854
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    Cited by:

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    2. Liang, Yutian & Zhou, Keyang & Li, Xun & Zhou, Zhengke & Sun, Wei & Zeng, Jiaqi, 2020. "Effectiveness of high-speed railway on regional economic growth for less developed areas," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    3. Sun, Xiaoqian & Wandelt, Sebastian & Zhang, Anming, 2021. "Comparative accessibility of Chinese airports and high-speed railway stations: A high-resolution, yet scalable framework based on open data," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    4. Li, Hui & Dong, Xiucheng & Jiang, Qingzhe & Dong, Kangyin, 2021. "Policy analysis for high-speed rail in China: Evolution, evaluation, and expectation," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 37-53.
    5. Xingchuan Gao & Tao Li & Xiaoshu Cao, 2019. "Spatial Fairness and Changes in Transport Infrastructure in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Area from 1976 to 2016," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-16, January.
    6. Weichen Liu & Jiaying Guo & Wei Wu & Youhui Cao, 2022. "The evolution of regional spatial structure influenced by passenger rail service: A case study of the Yangtze River Delta," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(2), pages 651-679, June.

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