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All Outputs (38)

Public Transport Regulation (2016)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Cowie, J. (2016, September). Public Transport Regulation. Presented at Presentation given to a delegation from the Chinese Minstry of Transport, Bruntsfield Hotel, Edinburgh

Does rail freight market liberalisation lead to market entry? A case study of the British privatisation experience (2014)
Journal Article
Cowie, J. (2015). Does rail freight market liberalisation lead to market entry? A case study of the British privatisation experience. Research in Transportation Business and Management, 14, 4-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2014.10.004

This paper considers developments since privatisation in the British rail freight market from both general and production supply side perspectives. It also reviews the literature relating to the US railroad partial deregulation in order to identify t... Read More about Does rail freight market liberalisation lead to market entry? A case study of the British privatisation experience.

Performance, profit and consumer sovereignty in the English deregulated bus market (2014)
Journal Article
Cowie, J. (2014). Performance, profit and consumer sovereignty in the English deregulated bus market. Research in Transportation Economics, 48, 255-262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2014.09.049

The pure free market will theoretically result in economic efficiency being achieved. At the heart of this proposition is the idea of consumer sovereignty, where producers that best meet the material wants of consumers will be the most successful. Wi... Read More about Performance, profit and consumer sovereignty in the English deregulated bus market.

Reregulating the deregulated, a case study of the Scottish Bus market. (2014)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Cowie, J. (2014, January). Reregulating the deregulated, a case study of the Scottish Bus market. Paper presented at 46th Universities Transport Studies Group Conference

Much research surrounds the move from publicly owned and operated bus markets to publicly controlled and privately operated markets, or in the case of Great Britain, a fully deregulated market. Little research however exists concerning the counter mo... Read More about Reregulating the deregulated, a case study of the Scottish Bus market..

A quantitative cross-modal analysis of transportation firms’ transaction costs - are airlines any different? (2012)
Journal Article
Merkert, R., & Cowie, J. (2012). A quantitative cross-modal analysis of transportation firms’ transaction costs - are airlines any different?. Journal of Air Transport Management, 22, 3-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jairtraman.2012.01.002

This paper applies a top-down approach to transaction cost measurement to identify the size of the transaction sector within types of transport firms in Britain, including rail and bus operating firms but also and importantly of airlines. Whilst this... Read More about A quantitative cross-modal analysis of transportation firms’ transaction costs - are airlines any different?.

Contestability in bus markets – evidence from the British de-regulated market (2012)
Journal Article
Cowie, J. (2012). Contestability in bus markets – evidence from the British de-regulated market. Applied Economics, 44, 4777-4785. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2011.564146

Following the 1985 Transport Act in Great Britain, reforms in the provision of bus services continue across Europe and other parts of the world to this day. The British experience, however, remains a key point of study in informing these continuing d... Read More about Contestability in bus markets – evidence from the British de-regulated market.

An assessment of cost management regimes in British rail infrastructure provision. (2012)
Journal Article
Cowie, J., & Loynes, S. (2012). An assessment of cost management regimes in British rail infrastructure provision. Transportation, 39, 1281-1299. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-012-9389-6

Over the last decade, British railway engineering efficiency has come under close scrutiny, with general perceptions of massive maintenance cost escalations and a general lack of control over these costs. This is exemplified by headline figures such... Read More about An assessment of cost management regimes in British rail infrastructure provision..

The cost of remote transport services in the single European market — The case of the Scottish Western Isles ferries (2012)
Journal Article
Cowie, J. (2012). The cost of remote transport services in the single European market — The case of the Scottish Western Isles ferries. Research in Transportation Business and Management, 4, 90-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2012.06.014

This paper concerns the reform of ferry services to the islands and peninsulas off the west coast of Scotland (known collectively as the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services), and the impact this has had on the economic performance of the operator. Refo... Read More about The cost of remote transport services in the single European market — The case of the Scottish Western Isles ferries.

Rail Freight in Great Britain – has privatisation made a noticeable difference? (2012)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Cowie, J. (2012, January). Rail Freight in Great Britain – has privatisation made a noticeable difference?. Presented at 44th Annual Conference of the University Transport Study Group

This paper briefly outlines the main changes brought about by the Railways Act 1993 with regard to the rail freight sector and then examines development of the sector since that time. It finds that although rail freight levels have increased, these... Read More about Rail Freight in Great Britain – has privatisation made a noticeable difference?.

Productivity and performance in the British rail freight industry since privatisation. (2010)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Cowie, J. (2010, July). Productivity and performance in the British rail freight industry since privatisation. Paper presented at World Association of Transportation Research (WCTR),

This paper briefly outlines the main changes brought about by the Railways Act 1993 with regard to the rail freight sector and then examines development of the sector since that time. It finds that although rail freight levels have increased, these i... Read More about Productivity and performance in the British rail freight industry since privatisation..

X-Inefficiency in British railway engineering. (2010)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Cowie, J. (2010, July). X-Inefficiency in British railway engineering. Paper presented at World Association of Transportation Research (WCTR),

Over the last decade, British railway engineering has come under increased scrutiny, with general perceptions of massive maintenance cost escalations and a general lack of control over these costs. Very little however has appeared in the academic lit... Read More about X-Inefficiency in British railway engineering..

Evaluating train protection systems (2004)
Journal Article
Riddington, G., Beck, M., & Cowie, J. (2004). Evaluating train protection systems. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 55(6), 606-613. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jors.2601724

This paper arose from the work carried out for the Cullen/Uff Joint Inquiry into Train Protection Systems. It is concerned with the problem of evaluating the benefits of safety enhancements in order to avoid rare, but catastrophic accidents, and the... Read More about Evaluating train protection systems.

Acquisition, efficiency and scale economies: An analysis of the British bus industry (2002)
Journal Article
Cowie, J. (2002). Acquisition, efficiency and scale economies: An analysis of the British bus industry. Transport Reviews, 22(2), 147-157. https://doi.org/10.1080/014416400110076267

The British Bus industry has undergone considerable transformation since privatization. Five major operators have emerged to dominate the market, a position almost exclusively attained through acquisition. This paper reviews the economies of scale ar... Read More about Acquisition, efficiency and scale economies: An analysis of the British bus industry.

Production economics of a vertically separated railway – The case of the British train operating companies. (2002)
Journal Article
Cowie, J. (2002). Production economics of a vertically separated railway – The case of the British train operating companies. Trasporti europei, 5, 45-52

This paper focuses on the production economics issues surrounding the vertical separation of infrastructure from rail services with regard to passenger operations. A case study of the British passenger railway privatisation is used. The British a... Read More about Production economics of a vertically separated railway – The case of the British train operating companies..

Subsidy and productivity in the privatised British passenger railway. (2002)
Journal Article
Cowie, J. (2002). Subsidy and productivity in the privatised British passenger railway. Economic issues, 7, 25-38

This paper gives an overview of subsidy reductions in the privatised passenger rail industry in Britain before focusing on productivity performance across the first four years under the privatised structure. Subsidy reductions are analysed in terms o... Read More about Subsidy and productivity in the privatised British passenger railway..