Introduction

Local and global infrastructure needs, the widening 'financing gap', and the increasingly important role of the private sector in the delivery of infrastructure have been at the forefront of public and private debate over the past three decades and drawn the close attention of both academia and the industry. The recent global financial crisis (GFC) was only the latest reminder that governments have found it increasingly difficult to maintain a high standard of transport infrastructure in a framework of tight public spending, which has continuously declined since the 1970s. Transport infrastructure, in particular, is related to economic development and, therefore, creates direct and indirect beneficiaries. The characteristics of the transport mode, that the asset under consideration belongs to, will guide the development of the system and define the boundaries and the potential of the business model. This chapter also presents overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.