Cost–Benefit Analysis in High-Speed Railway Projects: Appraisal of Methodological Approaches and an Initial Social Equity Evaluation, A Case Study

The international literature around the impacts of long-distance rail transport such as high-speed railways (HSR) reveals that social equity impacts have rarely been fully examined or taken into consideration in appraisal. Several methodological and contextual policy factors may have contributed to expanding this gap. As a result, the HSR’s potential to act as a transport and land use development policy tool to reduce accessibility inequalities and promote social inclusion remains unexplored in most cases. The present article aims to shed light on current methodological appraisal approaches in order to examine social equity issues around HSR projects, in terms of social sustainability. Further, the research methodology uses an in-depth investigation around one strategic railway project selected in Italy, a country that is investing in HSR. The paper is organized as follows: firstly, there is an introduction that refers to the specific case study. Soon after the paper illustrates the peculiar elements of the cost–benefit analysis of the HSR link Bari–Naples and considers the scientific literature on the issue. Then the novelty of equity considerations is presented in methodological terms and as a result of a concrete consultation process. Finally conclusions close the paper.