A Multi-Scenario-Oriented Study on the Impact of Regional Spatial Equity and Efficiency of Intercity Railways: A Case Study of the Shenzhen-Dongguan-Huizhou Region

Intercity rail planning and construction generates improved regional accessibility and contributes to changes in the spatial organization of the region, incorporating more areas into the 'integrated corridor economy' through the increased attractiveness of new connection locations in a dynamic process involving multi-level impacts in social and economic domains. In addition, the development of areas outside the intercity rail corridor could also be altered by new intercity rail plans; these improvements, often referred to as efficiency impacts, are mainly related to accessibility benefits. Traditional assessment methods do not address the conflicts between efficiency and equity concerns. Achieving a single efficiency objective would bias intercity rail planning towards providing efficient connections between major centers of economic activity, negatively impacting spatial equity as it would lead to polarized spatial development patterns. Equity considerations are receiving increasing attention in current regi