Abstract
The European transport strategy promotes the role of railways whereas the key role in passenger transport should be played by high speed lines (HSL). While the core network of high speed lines has already been built up and operated in Western Europe, there has been little coverage so farin Central and Eastern Europe.
The region thus offers opportunities for new HSL investment. On the other hand, the construction of HSL is very capital-intensive.
Besides that the economic level of Central and Eastern European countries is much lower than in their Western European counterparts. Therefore, there is a question where and when it is worth to build up HSL in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries.