ABSTRACT
This chapter first describes the nature and possible public-private partnerships in joint HSR ventures. Next, the background to applying a specific partnership in Lillp is developed. Financing the chapter concludes with the important local government-private sector rela tionship that developed between the high speed rail (TGV) developer and the Ville de Lille in France. This partnership concluded in suc cessful deployment of the TGV system into the heart of Lille and serves as a model for local governments anywhere in the world hoping to attract and retain a high speed ground transport system to service their community. A number of important conclusions that may help guide HSR development in the United States can be drawn from this Lille Case Study. Among the most important is recognizing and agreeing to critical public-private (or quasi-private) partnership responsibilities in planning, financing and implementing HSR sys tems. This division of labor can vary some what from site to site, but the essential components are fairly well agreed to in practice.
