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Dr Jonathan Cowie's Outputs (33)

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.

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..

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.

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?.

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..

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..

X-Inefficiency in British railway engineering.
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..

Contract Re-Award and Consumer Sovereignty, the case of British Rail Privatisation.
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Cowie, J. (2017, August). Contract Re-Award and Consumer Sovereignty, the case of British Rail Privatisation. Paper presented at Competition and Ownership in Land Based Public Transport (Thredbo 15), Stockholm

The Railways Act 1993 divided and sold off the state owned British Rail in its entirety and introduced competitive tender into the industry. This paper reviews the industry over the period 2000 to 2015 to determine firstly if TOCs have produced outc... Read More about Contract Re-Award and Consumer Sovereignty, the case of British Rail Privatisation..

Minimum efficient scale in container port operations over the very long run – is it increasing and does that matter?
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Cowie, J., & Monios, J. (2019, June). Minimum efficient scale in container port operations over the very long run – is it increasing and does that matter?. Paper presented at 27th Annual Conference of the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), Athens, Greece

This paper calculates the Minimum Efficient Scale (MES) of container port operations, which, despite significant economic analyses of port efficiency and productivity, has been addressed only rarely thus far. The research also explores the extent to... Read More about Minimum efficient scale in container port operations over the very long run – is it increasing and does that matter?.

Delivering on sustainable logistics by thinking inside the box – a case study of a successful business model
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Cowie, J., & Fisken, K. (2019, May). Delivering on sustainable logistics by thinking inside the box – a case study of a successful business model. Paper presented at 22nd annual Scottish Transport Applications and Research (STAR), Glasgow Caledonian University

Much research and EU research funding has been devoted to identifying the key factors that lead to a financially sustainable urban freight consolidation centre. Despite much ‘success’ with this at the academic level, to date no EU funded pilot has s... Read More about Delivering on sustainable logistics by thinking inside the box – a case study of a successful business model.