The purpose of this thesis is to offer an approach to the territorial impact of high speed rail on the Madrid-Levante Corridor (Madrid-Castilla La Mancha-Valencian Community-Murcia) in 2021 following the recent commissioning of new railway services in the Corridor. The thesis aims to answer questions such as: is high speed enough to encourage tourist activity? Can it contribute to revitalise areas in decline or with immigration issues? Will it mean a boost to traditional industrial sectors? The research also provides a series of recommendations on the policies and strategies to be implemented in the municipalities and regions in order to fully exploit the potential of high speed.