Europe’s High Speed Rail Network: Maturation and Opportunities

High speed rail is a good example of a complex social-technical system, it combines high technology with social institutions to provide transport service. However, in spite of advances in HSR technology, HSR service is operated in much the same manner as traditional passenger rail service – an unsuccessful long-term business model. This research argues that HSR needs disruptive innovation to create attractive and efficient new services tailored for today’s transport demands. Since HSR technology is already well developed, the key to creating these new services is overcoming institutional barriers to innovation in service design, pricing strategies and integration with other transport networks. European HSR operators have spent many years developing technology and building infrastructure thus creating a nascent international HSR network. The question is, how can this network be operated to create a truly innovative new transport service? The paper summarizes development of Europe’s HSR network. Next, it describes innovation theory in the railway context. Third it describes ideas for transforming HSR into an innovative new service. Implementing these ideas will require overcoming institutional barriers. Finally, the paper presents conclusions. Nash and Weidmann Page 2 EUROPE’S HIGH SPEED RAIL NETWORK: MATURATION AND OPPORTUNITIES