Spatial-Temporal Distribution and Coupling Relationship of High-Speed Railway and Economic Networks in Metropolitan Areas of China
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The article deals with the issue of intereletions between the development of transport infrastructure, metropolitan areas developemnt and economic development on a regional scale. The authors do it on the example of Yangtze River Delta region in China.
By using few adequate research methods they find out that the aforementioned relations are significant although influenced by factors related to geographical location or production structure.
The article is based on an appropriate literature analysis which accompanied by a solid quantitative analysis and a logical conclusions allow it to be published in the Land Journal
ps. In line it should be "Spain" not "Spanish"
In line it should be "Spain" not "Spanish"
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
The manuscript explores the coupling relationship between high-speed railway (HSR) networks and economic networks within metropolitan areas. The motivation behind the study is compelling, and the findings are intriguing, such as the varying HSR network coupling performances, even within regions exhibiting similar socio-economic development indicators. However, there are several concerns that the authors should address:
Main Concerns:
1. In Eq 3, the formula is normalized solely by the size of the networks. Could the total number of weights (i.e., train frequency) also confound the comparison between different regions' HSR networks?
2. Regarding Eq 5, the authors claim that "a city with a higher level of economic development has a greater impact on the surrounding cities." Could the authors provide further explanation for this claim? References or empirical evidence would be beneficial.
3. In Fig. 2, the term "municipality" is used to classify city types. This may not be the most accurate descriptor since, for instance, in Nordic countries, municipality populations can range from thousands to hundreds of thousands. However, Shanghai is a megacity with a population exceeding 10 million. Could the authors provide more clarity on this definition? Additionally, according to the legend in Fig. 2, the maximum value for "HSR Daily Frequency" is 1039. Does this imply that there are 1039 HSR train trips between two cities within a day?
Minor Concerns:
1. On page 2, line 70, there is a typographical error: "networksand" should be corrected to "networks and".
2. Does the HSR network constitute the only major infrastructure program in the studied areas over the past decade? Have there been any new highways or commuter trains introduced between cities during this time? Some background information would be beneficial.
Thank you for considering these comments.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
