Use of isochrone maps to assess the impact of high-speed rail network development on journey times: a case study of Nanjing city, Jiangsu province, China

Abstract

<p>It is well known that the increasing development of transport infrastructure will result in temporal and spatial convergence. As an important component of China’s high-speed rail (HSR) network, an ambitious HSR building program in Jiangsu province will extend the network to cover all cities and 95% of counties by 2030. This study aims to present and analyze the impacts of the evolving HSR network in Jiangsu province over the period of 2010–2030 by developing multi-phased isochrone maps of Nanjing city (the provincial capital of Jiangsu province). During the process, layered cost distance, a new method based on a door-to-door approach in actual travel time calculations, is proposed in order to draw the maps at a more detailed geographical level. Our results are expected to facilitate proactive public policy decisions related to improving the transport network.</p