In conclusion, our results show that the HSR policy has tended
to be somewhat inconsistent. This problem has been particularly
apparent in Spain, where HSR construction has been financially
backed by the EU, an institution that should ensure that limited
public funding is used for the most urgent and/or highest long term
priorities. However, the reality has been that while some countries
have insisted on improving the supply of HST services, they have
not taken decisions based on expected CAT. They may claim they
have given priority to territorial cohesion, but as promoters, they
have not shown interest in any type of previous cost–benefit analysis,
probably because this would not have justified such decisions.
This has not been the case in other countries where different principles
have guided transport policies. For example, Sweden and the
UK have used cost–benefit studies to overcome controversy as to
whether or not to invest in HSR and whether or not its cost will
be too high. Spain, on the other hand, has followed some policies
which were called into question in France in the 1990s, when it
was realised that investing in sparsely populated areas would
never meet initial expectations.