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All Outputs (37)

The retailer perspective on the potential for using urban consolidation centres (UCCs) (2024)
Journal Article
Akgün, E. Z., Monios, J., Cowie, J., & Fonzone, A. (2024). The retailer perspective on the potential for using urban consolidation centres (UCCs). Research in Transportation Economics, 103, Article 101413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2024.101413

This paper examines the role of supportive policies and value-added services which may incentivise retailers to use an urban consolidation centre (UCC). The methodology is a case study of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, based on semi-structured inte... Read More about The retailer perspective on the potential for using urban consolidation centres (UCCs).

Cycle Logistics: Sustaining the Last Mile (2023)
Book Chapter
Cowie, J., & Fisken, K. (2023). Cycle Logistics: Sustaining the Last Mile. In J. Monios, L. Budd, & S. Ison (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Urban Logistics (59-71). London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003241478-7

This chapter defines cycle logistics in terms of a formal specification, the characteristics of the main types of vehicles used and operating ranges. It then considers the main reasons for employing cargo bikes in the urban freight market, and discus... Read More about Cycle Logistics: Sustaining the Last Mile.

Urban freight policy maturity and sustainable logistics: are they related? (2023)
Journal Article
Cowie, J., & Fisken, K. (2023). Urban freight policy maturity and sustainable logistics: are they related?. Journal of Shipping and Trade, 8, Article 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41072-023-00133-0

Problems associated with urban freight are well known and documented in the academic literature, particularly with regards to the impact on air quality and general intrusion of public space. As a defining principle however, urban freight has general... Read More about Urban freight policy maturity and sustainable logistics: are they related?.

Long run productivity and profitability in the British bus industry (2022)
Journal Article
Cowie, J. (2023). Long run productivity and profitability in the British bus industry. Research in Transportation Business & Management, 46, Article 100911. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2022.100911

The passing of the Transport Act 1985 deregulated and privatised the bus industry in Great Britain outside of London, however failed to address the prime specified aim of reversing the long run decline in patronage. Review of the literature suggests... Read More about Long run productivity and profitability in the British bus industry.

Bus Franchising in English and Scottish regions – viable solution or unfeasible instrument? (2022)
Journal Article
Villa i Aguilar, X., Rye, T., McTigue, C., & Cowie, J. (2022). Bus Franchising in English and Scottish regions – viable solution or unfeasible instrument?. Transport Policy, 120, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2022.02.011

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 Bus Franchising in English and Scottish regions – viable solution or unfeasible instrument?.

Solar-Powered Active Road Studs and Highway Infrastructure: Effect on Vehicle Speeds (2021)
Journal Article
Llewellyn, R., Cowie, J., & Fountas, G. (2021). Solar-Powered Active Road Studs and Highway Infrastructure: Effect on Vehicle Speeds. Energies, 14(21), 7209. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14217209

Vehicle speeds have a direct relationship with the severity of road crashes and may influence their probability of occurrence. Solar-powered active road studs have been shown to have a positive effect on driver confidence, but their impact on vehicle... Read More about Solar-Powered Active Road Studs and Highway Infrastructure: Effect on Vehicle Speeds.

Active Road Studs as an Alternative to Lighting on Rural Roads: Driver Safety Perception (2020)
Journal Article
Llewellyn, R., Cowie, J., & Maher, M. (2020). Active Road Studs as an Alternative to Lighting on Rural Roads: Driver Safety Perception. Sustainability, 12(22), Article 9648. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229648

Drivers, particularly with increasing age, cite driving at night as being problematic and feeling unsafe. Ultimately this may result in self-regulation and avoidance, with potentially negative health effects. The issue is commonly mitigated through p... Read More about Active Road Studs as an Alternative to Lighting on Rural Roads: Driver Safety Perception.

A Theoretical and Evidence Based Assessment of the Economics of Last Mile Delivery Consolidation (2019)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Cowie, J., & Fisken, K. (2019, December). A Theoretical and Evidence Based Assessment of the Economics of Last Mile Delivery Consolidation. Paper presented at 6th International Workshop on Sustainable Road Freight, University of Cambridge

Much research literature suggests that one mechanism through which the sustainability of road freight could be enhanced within the urban context, is through consolidation of consignments over ‘the last mile’. An often cited added benefit is that thi... Read More about A Theoretical and Evidence Based Assessment of the Economics of Last Mile Delivery Consolidation.

Are Friends Electric? Rethinking City Logistics (2019)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Cowie, J. (2019, October). Are Friends Electric? Rethinking City Logistics. Presented at TRI’s 5th Annual Electric Vehicle Event, Edinburgh Napier University

One commonly proposed solution to urban freight transport issues is the idea of consolidation over the last mile (through urban consolidation centres, UCC). Despite this strong focus, such initiatives have a horrendous commercial record, with very f... Read More about Are Friends Electric? Rethinking City Logistics.

Efficiency, productivity and returns to scale in ports: a comparison of data envelopment analysis and econometric estimation with application to Caribbean Small Island Developing States (2018)
Journal Article
Julien, S.-A., Cowie, J., & Monios, J. (2020). Efficiency, productivity and returns to scale in ports: a comparison of data envelopment analysis and econometric estimation with application to Caribbean Small Island Developing States. Maritime Economics and Logistics, 22(2), 239-264. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41278-018-0115-y

This paper investigates the evolutionary technical efficiency and productivity of ports in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The focus is primarily on Caribbean SIDS, benchmarked against two comparator groups: major top ports and ports in other... Read More about Efficiency, productivity and returns to scale in ports: a comparison of data envelopment analysis and econometric estimation with application to Caribbean Small Island Developing States.

The bus industry in Scotland – just a bunch of profiteering opportunists? (2018)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Cowie, J. (2018, May). The bus industry in Scotland – just a bunch of profiteering opportunists?. Paper presented at Scottish Transport Applications and Research (STAR) 2018

The Transport Act 1985 privatised and deregulated the bus industry in Great Britain outside of London, with the intention of creating a competitive industry that would compete for patronage through the economic principles of contestability and consum... Read More about The bus industry in Scotland – just a bunch of profiteering opportunists?.

Long term productivity gains in the privatised British passenger rail industry – A case study of Malmquist productivity index measurements (2018)
Journal Article
Cowie, J. (2018). Long term productivity gains in the privatised British passenger rail industry – A case study of Malmquist productivity index measurements. Research in Transportation Business & Management, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2018.01.001

This paper assesses long term productivity in the privatised British passenger rail industry using a Malmquist productivity index (MPI) generated using three different efficiency assessment methods, namely data envelopment analysis (DEA), corrected o... Read More about Long term productivity gains in the privatised British passenger rail industry – A case study of Malmquist productivity index measurements.

Britain’s railways were nationalised 70 years ago – let’s not do it again (2018)
Newspaper / Magazine
Cowie, J. (2018). Britain’s railways were nationalised 70 years ago – let’s not do it again

It is 70 years since the era of public rail ownership began in Great Britain. The British Transport Commission formally took control of the operation and planning of the whole network, having been brought into existence by Clement Attlee’s Labour gov... Read More about Britain’s railways were nationalised 70 years ago – let’s not do it again.

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..