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Cities and the governance of transport interfaces: Ethiopia's new rail systems

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  • Rode, Philipp
  • Terrefe, Biruk
  • da Cruz, Nuno F.

Abstract

This paper investigates the governance of transport infrastructure interfaces. These are connection or touching points that bring together different city systems, technical characteristics and governance regimes. The empirical evidence comes from Ethiopia's new rail systems and is based on experiences in two cities, the capital Addis Ababa and the second largest city Dire Dawa. The techno-spatial and organisational boundaries that define infrastructure interfaces are under-researched across disciplines. Yet it is at these hotspots of urban governance where many critical questions for cities arise: who governs, what to prioritise, how to coordinate? Based on a multiple case study approach, this paper combines socio-spatial analysis with institutional analysis of infrastructure governance. The findings include the identification of highly centralised and hierarchical governance and coordination dynamics, as well as the critical role of a new bureaucracy (the Ethiopian Railway Corporation) structured around core railway engineering competence rather than urban transport and development expertise. More generally, it is a techno-political alliance in Ethiopia which shapes urban development and the rollout of infrastructure at an unprecedented speed and scale.

Suggested Citation

  • Rode, Philipp & Terrefe, Biruk & da Cruz, Nuno F., 2020. "Cities and the governance of transport interfaces: Ethiopia's new rail systems," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 76-94.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:trapol:v:91:y:2020:i:c:p:76-94
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2020.03.004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Liza Rose Cirolia & Tesfaye Hailu & Julia King & Nuno F da Cruz & Jo Beall, 2021. "Infrastructure governance in the post-networked city: State-led, high-tech sanitation in Addis Ababa’s condominium housing," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 39(7), pages 1606-1624, November.
    2. Cirolia, Liza Rose & Hailu, Tesfaye & King, Julia & da Cruz, Nuno F. & Beall, Jo, 2021. "Infrastructure governance in the post-networked city: state-led, high-tech sanitation in Addis Ababa’s condominium housing," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 111053, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Tom Goodfellow & Zhengli Huang, 2021. "Contingent infrastructure and the dilution of ‘Chineseness’: Reframing roads and rail in Kampala and Addis Ababa," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 53(4), pages 655-674, June.
    4. Temitope Seun Omotayo & Bankole Awuzie & Valerie Kenechukwu Obi & Saheed Ajayi & Lovelin Ifeoma Obi & Oluyomi Osobajo & Adekunle Oke, 2022. "The System Dynamics Analysis of Cost Overrun Causations in UK Rail Projects in a COVID-19 Epidemic Era," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, May.
    5. Elke Beyer & Lucas-Andrés Elsner & Anke Hagemann & Philipp Misselwitz, 2021. "Industrial Infrastructure: Translocal Planning for Global Production in Ethiopia and Argentina," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(3), pages 444-463.
    6. Stadler Benz, Philippe & Stauffacher, Michael, 2023. "A systemic approach to the transformation of swiss railway stations: Mind the gap between the local, short-term and national, long-term worldviews," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 99-111.

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