Influence of Rapid Transit on Accessibility Pattern and Economic Linkage at Urban Agglomeration Scale in China

Abstract

The development of high-speed railways has become an important factor influencing regional pattern changes in China. In this study, an accessibility evaluation model was constructed in combination with regional scale and regional center city to research the effect of high-speed rails on accessibility in the South Jiangsu, an urban agglomeration in China. Based on accessibility index, urban economic and social statistics data were used in conjunction with a gravity model to analyze the characteristics and evolvement of economic relations in this area. The result shows that high-speed rails improve overall regional accessibility, significantly benefit regions along rail lines, and makes middle- and long-distance journeys more convenient for the general public. High-speed rails play a particularly dominant role in the evolution of economic linkage and effectively strengthen the ties between cities. When the bonds between cities along rail lines greatly improve, a basic framework of economic relations is formed. Finally this paper discusses the imbalance arising from the effect of high-speed rails, proposing such suggestions as improving urban traffic and building expressways that connect high-speed rail stations in marginal areas to improve accessibility.