ABSTRACT

This chapter proposes a comparative analysis of the political discourses related to the development of high-speed rail (HSR) in Europe, the US and China. In Europe, HSR has been established for many years, while in the United States (US), HSR projects are expected to be launched in the future. China possesses the world's largest HSR network. It focuses on how HSR systems can be subject to different political significances. The idea of a European HSR network further facilitates the formation of the Trans-European Networks (TEN) programme. In the US, the HSR programme announced by the Obama administration in 2009 was part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and was supposed to contribute to economic recovery through job creation. The HSR development in China represents one of the most notable achievements during the Jintao Hus presidency. Shared territorial identity is a common characteristic of HSR protests in Europe.