Barrier Effects: The Case of Air and Rail Flows

Abstract

Big cities play a key role in pattern setting and thus in spatial integration. We assume that the urban network of European centres thus constitutes the best field for the observation of the phenomena of integra tion and unification of European space. An analysis of interurban networks (air and rail) helps to identify both the strongest links of this integration and the barriers that inhibit its expansion. This paper employs the usual methodologies, such as gravity models and graph theory.