Stimulated by European integration, the need for high-grade transport connections among the major European cities is growing. Coinciding with their reurbanization efforts, the HST is eminently suitable to fill that need, since it essentially connects urban centres and is relatively environment friendly. This comparative investigation in fourteen European cities sets out to analyze how the HST can make an optimum contribution to the development of welfare in urban regions. The study has been carried out in the framework of Eurocities, an organization of more than 80 European urban regions. Representatives of fourteen participating cities have written monographs on their specific circumstances. These studies have been the base of the comparative investigation. Besides, EURICUR visited all the participating cities to discuss the local HST-integration with key personalities. These were, among others, representatives of the urban and regional authorities, chambers of commerce, railway companies and airports.