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número 6 - junio - 2018. Pág 137 - 161

Central versus Peripheral High-Speed Rail Stations:

Opportunities For Companies to Relocate?
The cases of Reims Central Station and Champagne-Ardenne Station

Beckerich, Christophe

Benoit, Sylvie

Delaplace, Marie

Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne 1
Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée - Lab’Urba - EUP

Abstract

High‐speed rail (HSR) can serve cities in two main ways: first and foremost via
city‐centre stations, but increasingly also via peripheral stations. By analysing
the case of Reims, this article aims to identify the reasons that lead firms to
locate around each type of station. Two surveys conducted in 2014 and 2015 ena‐
ble us to show that HSR not only structures urban space but also segments it by
function. While office availability is a very important consideration in the choice
of location for both types of areas, other location factors including HSR are type‐
specific. Moreover, the types of companies in each kind of area are not the same.
While local companies are present in both cases, the central station in Reims
plays host to more external creations whereas the peripheral station is favoured
for more external relocations. The companies present also differ in terms of their
activities. Around the central station, there is a predominance of financial and
insurance activities, while in Bezannes – the location of Champagne‐Ardenne TGV
station, on the southern outskirts of the city – there is a strong specialization in
offices for industry‐related activities.

Keywords: High‐Speed rail, central and peripheral rail station, location choice

1 Beckerich, Christophe. Laboratoire REGARDS – Université de Reims Champagne‐Ardenne. Email: christophe.beckerich@univ‐reims.fr
Benoit, Sylvie. Laboratoire REGARDS – Université de Reims Champagne‐Ardenne. Email: christophe. sylvie.benoit@univ‐reims.fr
Marie Delaplace. Université Paris‐Est Marne‐la‐Vallée‐ Lab’Urba‐EUP. Email: marie.delaplace@u‐pem.fr. (corresponding author)

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