between high speed rail stations in North West Europe. The project, whose lead partner is the South East England Development Agency, working in conjunction with a total of 18 partners from the UK, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, aims to investigate and demonstrate the means by which HST stations and station area developments can serve the internal cohesion as well as the external strength and competitiveness of this part of Europe and serve the local needs and development perspectives of the nodes in question - thus the project will address issues at both local and transnational levels. The objectives of the project are to promote a sound and complementary poly-nuclear backbone for NWE; to investigate and demonstrate the means by which HST stations and station area developments can serve the internal cohesion as well as the external strength and competitiveness of this part of Europe; and to serve the local needs and development perspectives of the nodes in question - thus addressing issues at both local and transnational levels. The project will see investment in local connections to the HST network across North West Europe and undertake benchmarking and strategic policy assessment consistent with issues raised as part of the NWE Spatial Vision Conference of October 2000. Three themes shaping the project are links and connectivity, environmental quality, and economic development and social inclusion. Thus, this integrated approach addresses common transnational issues of potential long term value to spatial planning. The project hopes to contribute to the overall objective of more sustainable transport within NWE by promoting a modal shift from air to rail Specific actions will include: improving the environmental quality of the public transport hubs, train and bus stations; providing better links with cross-border regional public transport; improving and extending the existing feedering lines; creating public transport links with surrounding communities; connecting international and domestic rail stations. Actual investments include: environmental and urban design improvements in and around HST stations; improvement of public transport interchanges; creation of business passengers’ facilities; physical improvement of feedering stations. Investments will take place in London, Stratford, Ebbsfleet, Ashford, The Hague, Aachen, Heerlen, Leiedal.