How Can External Stakeholders Influence a Project? The Case of the Portuguese High Speed Rail Network

Recent attention has been given to the disappointing performance of several large-size transport projects due their cost and schedule overruns. These less than desirable outcomes result in a negative image leading to an increase in negative public opinion about these projects in the transportation sector. This adverse climate contributes to several research concerns: Which issues are relevant in the performance of large-size projects? What role may different stakeholders play in the performance of a transportation megaproject? Are external stakeholders more important than those stakeholders bounded by contracts? This paper presents an analysis on how risk and uncertainty have been dealt in megaprojects. The case of the Portuguese High Speed Rail (HSR) Network aims to provide an opportunity for reflection concerning these subjects and, hence, contributes to understanding the influence that external stakeholders may have in transportation megaprojects.