Pathway to green: the impact of high-speed rail network on urban green land use efficiency

In recent years, urban networks have emerged as a significant force shaping urban development, while the relevant studies focusing on urban green land use efficiency(GLUE) are lacking. This study aims to help complete the “impact puzzle” by investigating the impact of the high-speed rail network(HSRN) on the urban green land use efficiency. Using land use and high-speed rail data from 284 Chinese cities with a time-varying DID and fixed effects model, we find that: Firstly, the introduction of high-speed rail has noticeably enhanced the GLUE compared to cities without it. This positive impact is not short-lived; it continues to strengthen one year after the high-speed rail introduction, demonstrating a lasting policy effect. Secondly, a city's breadth of network connectivity is a critical factor. The greater the breadth of a city's network connectivity, the more pronounced the positive effect on its GLUE. Ultimately, a heterogeneity analysis reveals significant disparities based on city size. The initial introduction of high-speed rail does not yield significant benefits for large cities. In contrast, small and medium-sized cities experience a noticeable improvement in GLUE due to the high-speed rail introduction. For large cities, however, the breadth of network connectivity exhibits a more pronounced effect in enhancing the GLUE. This article offers a novel perspective on elucidating China's achievements in the GLUE, and provides innovative insights for advancing sustainable urban land use in the future. • This study examines the impact of high-speed rail on the urban green land use efficiency from the dual perspectives of infrastructure and urban network. • The opening of high-speed rail and the breadth of high-speed rail network connectivity have significantly enhanced the urban green land use efficiency. • The facilitating role of high-speed rail network manifests significant disparities among different cities.