ABSTRACT
This might lead to more intense state interventions in the rail market which interrupt the process of railway reform towards a more commercial orientation of the railway companies. The fifth part will summarise the main conclusions on the potential of HSR on the one hand and on the barriers to HSR development on the other hand. HSR extension is not possible without the significant financial assistance of the state. There is high probability that the budget problems of the European states will increase after the economic crisis. Therefore there are some doubts about the financial feasibility of the very optimistic expansion plans of some European countries.
