The influence of the railway network on territorial integration in Europe (1870–1950)

It is well-known that the major railway builders transformed the dimensions and characteristics of the modern company (Chandler, 1990). This paper aims to quantify the territorial impact of the combined action of these companies and of the states that promoted their respective railway networks. The territorial factor played an essential role within the general programme of state building which was consolidated during the 19th century by the provision of major public infrastructure. This provided the foundations for nation-building programmes, which were also based on the promotion of a common culture, an official language, education andeconomic activity in which the whole country was supposed to take part. The objective was to consolidate national unity and it was therefore essential to promote the widest possible social consensus. This paper also aims to provide a historical perspective to several current debates and particularly to those associated with EU policy for the provision of infrastructure, and especially roads. In this respect, it particularly focuses on the postulate of territorial integration. As in the past, this principle has two objectives. The first, and most explicit, is to provide the peripheral areas, and those that are less developed, with more opportunities through improvements in transport. The second, which is often more implicit, implies accepting that certain inequalities will persist. It is generally accepted that new investment will help the most dynamic areas to extend their influence throughout the whole territory. European Integration (EI) policies have therefore tended to have transport policy as one of their main pillars. This paper will show that the generally accepted view that political and economic unity requires territorial integration has antecedents that date back to the 19th century. The authors' hypothesis is that the railway network played an important integrating role during Europe's main period of state building, from 1870 onwards, and that this role can be measured at the regional scale.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2017.05.015
• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0966692316307141
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/09666923
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Martí-Henneberg, Jordi
• Publication Date: 2017-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 160-171
• Serial:
  • Journal of Transport Geography
  • Volume: 62
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0966-6923
  • Serial URL: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jtrangeo

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: History; Networks; Railroads; Transportation policy
• Subject Areas: History; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01646510
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 25 2017 2:10PM