Tillgänglighet och regional tillväxt. Vilka konsekvenser ger transportinfrastruktur för nya regioner och vilka är drivkrafterna bakom regional tillväxt?

Abstract: This bachelor thesis investigates how investments in new sets of transportation infrastructures could affect regional development. By using central theories for transportation geography and regional development, empirical comparison and interviews with experts within the field and politicians, this paper answer four different research questions to discuss the purpose of the thesis. The questions are why can accessibility provide opportunities for increased integration of cities and regions? What consequences have previous infrastructure investments given to new regions? What are the main arguments for and against Hyperloop and high-speed rail? What view do politicians and investigators have on new transport infrastructure for urban development? The findings of the study indicates that increased accessibility between cities leads to regional development because larger trade and labor markets gets accessible, which then leads to economic development. There is also proven that there is a significant positive relationship between investments of high-speed rails and regional development. Historical research from Spain and Japan proves that increased land use and accessibility to larger labor markets and new regions favors further economic development. There is however little research done for Hyperloop in this matter and the consequences is therefore harder to predict. But this paper assumes that the consequences would be similar for Hyperloop and high-speed rail. Some of the main arguments for Hyperloop is that it is said to be much cheaper to build and the speed is higher, but the technology is still under development. For high-speed rail the main arguments is that the technology has proved to work and we know the costs and benefits of it. However, it is expensive, takes a long time to build and is noisy. Experts and politicians shares the same thoughts about the importance of new transport networks for regional development but until the costs for Hyperloop is defined, they are reluctant for further investigations and investments.