IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/teinso/v59y2019ics0160791x1930199x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Technological frames and the politics of automated electric Light Rail Rapid Transit in Poland and the United Kingdom

Author

Listed:
  • Sovacool, Benjamin K.
  • Yazdi, Asieh Haieri

Abstract

Light Rapid Transit (LRT) systems are often backed not only because they satisfy basic mobility functions, but because they can revitalize urban centers, affirm the legitimacy of state planners, support innovation and even cultivate an image of a city or region as progressive and modern. In this study, we argue that electrified, automated LRT systems can fulfill private functional frames, private symbolic frames, societal functional frames, and societal symbolic frames. In particular, we argue that light rail can fulfill private functional frames (making passengers feel safe, offering a cheap and efficient mode of transport), private symbolic frames (signifying political identity or exclusionary planning), societal functional frames (environmental stewardship), and societal symbolic frames (such as modernism or innovativeness, or the lack of it). Essentially, these frames encompass not only what light rail is and does, but what it means and represents, and even some of its failures and challenges. The article then identifies ten specific frames associated with two case studies of automated light rail systems, the established Docklands Light Rail (DLR) in the United Kingdom, and the emerging Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) in Poland. We find that the DLR is not only a vital part of meeting (functional) demand for mobility, it is innovative and exciting to ride, legitimation of a conservative approach to project development, a social injustice (to some), an environmentally friendly alternative to cars, and a perceived magnet for global investment into the greater Docklands area. Similarly, the PRT is not only a reliable and safe mode of transit, but also a technical marvel, a monopoly breaking symbol, a clean and sustainable form of mobility, and a reflection of either progressive Polish innovation and entrepreneurship, or enduring failure.

Suggested Citation

  • Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Yazdi, Asieh Haieri, 2019. "Technological frames and the politics of automated electric Light Rail Rapid Transit in Poland and the United Kingdom," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:59:y:2019:i:c:s0160791x1930199x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2019.101190
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X1930199X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techsoc.2019.101190?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gadziński, Jędrzej & Radzimski, Adam, 2016. "The first rapid tram line in Poland: How has it affected travel behaviours, housing choices and satisfaction, and apartment prices?," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 451-463.
    2. Lee, Shin S. & Senior, Martyn L., 2013. "Do light rail services discourage car ownership and use? Evidence from Census data for four English cities," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 11-23.
    3. Eamonn Judge, 2000. "The Regional and Environmental Dimension of Polish Motorway Policy," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(5), pages 488-493.
    4. D. Knowles, Richard & Ferbrache, Fiona, 2016. "Evaluation of wider economic impacts of light rail investment on cities," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 430-439.
    5. Kołoś, Arkadiusz & Taczanowski, Jakub, 2016. "The feasibility of introducing light rail systems in medium-sized towns in Central Europe," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 400-413.
    6. Knowles, Richard D., 2007. "What future for light rail in the UK after Ten Year Transport Plan targets are scrapped?," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 14(1), pages 81-93, January.
    7. Matti Siemiatycki, 2005. "The making of a mega project in the neoliberal city," City, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(1), pages 67-83, April.
    8. Theresa Erin Enright, 2013. "Mass Transportation in the Neoliberal City: The Mobilizing Myths of the Grand Paris Express," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 45(4), pages 797-813, April.
    9. Olesen, Mette & Lassen, Claus, 2016. "Rationalities and materialities of light rail scapes," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 373-382.
    10. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Axsen, Jonn, 2018. "Functional, symbolic and societal frames for automobility: Implications for sustainability transitions," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 730-746.
    11. Hodgson, Paul & Potter, Stephen & Warren, James & Gillingwater, David, 2013. "Can bus really be the new tram?," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 158-166.
    12. Rosik, Piotr & Stępniak, Marcin & Komornicki, Tomasz, 2015. "The decade of the big push to roads in Poland: Impact on improvement in accessibility and territorial cohesion from a policy perspective," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 134-146.
    13. Church, A. & Frost, M. & Sullivan, K., 2000. "Transport and social exclusion in London," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 7(3), pages 195-205, July.
    14. Carbajo, Jose & Sakatsume, Toshiaki, 2004. "Plans, timetables, and delays: progress with railway reform in transition economies," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 12(4), pages 231-242, December.
    15. King, David A. & Fischer, Lauren Ames, 2016. "Streetcar projects as spatial planning: A shift in transport planning in the United States," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 383-390.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Diogo Da Fonseca-Soares & Josicleda Domiciano Galvinicio & Sayonara Andrade Eliziário & Angel Fermin Ramos-Ridao, 2022. "A Bibliometric Analysis of the Trends and Characteristics of Railway Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-19, October.
    2. Yakubu Suleiman & Adeyemi Ajayi & Sule Abass & Ogunbajo Rukaiyyat, 2020. "The Relationship Between Road Infrastructure Budgetary Expenditures and Commercial Property Investment Returns. Case Study of Fadikpe Area Minna, Nigeria," Baltic Journal of Real Estate Economics and Construction Management, Sciendo, vol. 8(1), pages 187-196, January.
    3. Liudan Jiao & Fenglian Luo & Fengyan Wu & Yu Zhang & Xiaosen Huo & Ya Wu, 2022. "Exploring the Interactive Coercing Relationship between Urban Rail Transit and the Ecological Environment," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-20, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kristian Olesen, 2020. "Infrastructure imaginaries: The politics of light rail projects in the age of neoliberalism," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 57(9), pages 1811-1826, July.
    2. Jackson Sekasi & Mauro Luiz Martens, 2021. "Assessing the Contributions of Urban Light Rail Transit to the Sustainable Development of Addis Ababa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-22, May.
    3. Athanasios-Alexandru Gavrilidis & Andreea Nita & Mihaita-Iulian Niculae, 2020. "Assessing the Potential Conflict Occurrence Due to Metropolitan Transportation Planning: A Proposed Quantitative Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-21, January.
    4. Diemer, Matthew J. & Currie, Graham & De Gruyter, Chris & Kamruzzaman, Md. & Hopkins, Ian, 2021. "A streetcar to be desired? The development of a new approach to measure perception of place quality in the context of tram network modernisation," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    5. Kamruzzaman, Liton, 2024. "Subjective vs. objective assessment of the economic impacts of light rail transit: The case of G:Link in Gold Coast, Australia," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    6. Engebretsen, Øystein & Christiansen, Petter & Strand, Arvid, 2017. "Bergen light rail – Effects on travel behaviour," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 111-121.
    7. Kevin Dwarka & Eran Feitelson, 2013. "The political economy of urban infrastructure," Chapters, in: Hugo Priemus & Bert van Wee (ed.), International Handbook on Mega-Projects, chapter 8, pages 158-181, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    8. Kołoś, Arkadiusz & Taczanowski, Jakub, 2016. "The feasibility of introducing light rail systems in medium-sized towns in Central Europe," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 400-413.
    9. Linovski, Orly & Baker, Dwayne Marshall & Manaugh, Kevin, 2018. "Equity in practice? Evaluations of equity in planning for bus rapid transit," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 75-87.
    10. Seidenglanz, Daniel & Kvizda, Martin & Nigrin, Tomáš & Tomeš, Zdeněk & Dujka, Jiří, 2016. "Czechoslovak light rail — Legacy of socialist urbanism or opportunity for the future?," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 414-429.
    11. Culver, Gregg, 2017. "Mobility and the making of the neoliberal “creative city”: The streetcar as a creative city project?," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 22-30.
    12. Boquet Yves, 2017. "The renaissance of tramways and urban redevelopment in France," Miscellanea Geographica. Regional Studies on Development, Sciendo, vol. 21(1), pages 5-18, March.
    13. John Stanley & Janet Stanley, 2023. "Improving Appraisal Methodology for Land Use Transport Measures to Reduce Risk of Social Exclusion," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-18, August.
    14. Mohíno, Inmaculada & Ureña, José M. & Solís, Eloy, 2016. "Transport infrastructure and territorial cohesion in rural metro-adjacent regions: A multimodal accessibility approach. The case of Castilla-La Mancha in the context of Madrid (Spain)," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 115-133.
    15. Julie Le Gallo & Yannick L'Horty & Pascale Petit, 2014. "Does subsidising young people to learn to drive promote social inclusion? Evidence from a large controlled experiment in France," TEPP Working Paper 2014-15, TEPP.
    16. Lee, Shin S. & Senior, Martyn L., 2013. "Do light rail services discourage car ownership and use? Evidence from Census data for four English cities," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 11-23.
    17. Duvarci, Yavuz & Yigitcanlar, Tan & Mizokami, Shoshi, 2015. "Transportation disadvantage impedance indexing: A methodological approach to reduce policy shortcomings," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 61-75.
    18. Ali Enes Dingil & Federico Rupi & Domokos Esztergár-Kiss, 2021. "An Integrative Review of Socio-Technical Factors Influencing Travel Decision-Making and Urban Transport Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-20, September.
    19. Iqbal Hamiduddin & Daniel Fitzpatrick & Rebekah Plueckhahn & Uurtsaikh Sangi & Enkhjin Batjargal & Erdenetsogt Sumiyasuren, 2021. "Social Sustainability and Ulaanbaatar’s ‘Ger Districts’: Access and Mobility Issues and Opportunities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-16, October.
    20. Gruber, Mario, 2020. "An evolutionary perspective on adoption-diffusion theory," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 535-541.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:59:y:2019:i:c:s0160791x1930199x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/technology-in-society .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.