<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This article aims two EU member countries (i.e. Portugal and Germany) from different regions in Europe which have, for decades, been following common strategies regarding HSR development. The authors discuss the economic profitability vs. political aims, which were related to rail modernization. The text outlines the historic background of early railway construction, important milestones for a new level of rail planning in the 1980s and 1990s in both Portugal and Germany and delays in the realization of HSR projects, their rising costs, and the opposition of the public against the new lines. The experience of the countries under scope serves as an example for other EU members who have plans to take part in the Trans-European Transport Network.</p>
</abstract>

This article aims two EU member countries (i.e. Portugal and Germany) from different regions in Europe which have, for decades, been following common strategies regarding HSR development. The authors discuss the economic profitability vs. political aims, which were related to rail modernization. The text outlines the historic background of early railway construction, important milestones for a new level of rail planning in the 1980s and 1990s in both Portugal and Germany and delays in the realization of HSR projects, their rising costs, and the opposition of the public against the new lines. The experience of the countries under scope serves as an example for other EU members who have plans to take part in the Trans-European Transport Network.

Political Will and Economic Necessity? The Construction of High-Speed Rail Networks in Portugal and East Germany

Department of North American Studies, Institute of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences

Department of German and Austrian Studies, Institute of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences

Marketing Section, Regional and Suburban Transport Department

Review of Economic Perspectives

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

This article aims two EU member countries (i.e. Portugal and Germany) from different regions in Europe which have, for decades, been following common...

Political Will and Economic Necessity? The Construction of High-Speed Rail Networks in Portugal and East Germany

Published Online: Dec 30, 2022

Page range: 19 - 34

Received: Nov 02, 2022

Accepted: Dec 13, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/revecp-2022-0017

Keywords
History of transportation, Development of railways, High-speed rail in Portugal, High-speed rail in East Germany

© 2022 Pavel Szobi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Political Will and Economic Necessity? The Construction of High-Speed Rail Networks in Portugal and East Germany

Published Online: Dec 30, 2022

Page range: 19 - 34

Received: Nov 02, 2022

Accepted: Dec 13, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/revecp-2022-0017

KeywordsHistory of transportation, Development of railways, High-speed rail in Portugal, High-speed rail in East Germany

© 2022 Pavel Szobi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
History of transportation, Development of railways, High-speed rail in Portugal, High-speed rail in East Germany