Relationship between High-Speed Rail and Regional Development: Lessons from Japanese Benchmark Cases

Abstract

High-speed rail (HSR) is not a “sufficient condition” but a “necessary condition” for regional development. Understanding how to use HSR for regional development is essential. Japan’s Shinkansen (bullet train) has a 50-year history, and Japan has long attempted to utilize Shinkansen for regional development. We introduce Shinkansen-related regional development cases, including a national economic plan, tourism promotion, and development around Shinkansen stations. Several HSR development plans are currently in progress around the world, especially in Asian countries, and the Japanese experience is informative and useful for these countries. We present a case study concerning advising Kuala Lumpur–Singapore’s HSR based on Japanese experiences, in particular the effectiveness of the “back-casting approach” for localization.

Keywords: high-speed rail, regional development, Japan shinkansen

JEL Classification: L92, N95, O53, R58