1. Welcome to Aalborg University Mette Nielsen metten@plan.aau.dk UNDERSTANDING GLOBAL AND LOCAL CONCEPTS OF LIGHT RAIL THROUGH NARRATIVES

2. Background How can the effects of Light Rail in Middle-sized European cities be explained?

3. My Curiosity… (Saxe, 1868)

4. The Liveable city Struggle for space Backbone for the public transport network "Light-rail Factor" Growth Sustainability Restriction of car access Economical feasibility Choice of technology Global Discourses

5. From Global to Local Figure developed with inspiration in (Tait & Jensen, 2007)

6. The Central Claim Clear concepts steers light rail projects efficiently through the political process, and structures the expected outcome.

7. Bergen Light Rail The most heavily discussed project in 15 years (Hartmann, Lampe, Monsen, & Prestmo, 2006)(Rasmussen, 2011)

8. Stories of Bergen Light Rail -The Environmental project -The Urban Project -The non viable project (economically, and technically) -The fairytale project The end project- a compromise

9. Local concepts CityConcept/VisionInitiatives Bern West Switzerland Mental regeneration and urban development "The tram belongs to the future" Establishment of a new shopping centre New housing areas Regeneration Freiburg Germany Mobility, reduce individual motorised transport "umsteigen, umdenken" Hubs Car-free developments Pedestrian zones Park n' ride Angers France Urban regeneration "My tramway" Mobile urban spaces Identity Shared space Nottingham England Accessibility "Glide into Nottingham" Separated tracks On existing rail infrastructure Bergen Norway Life in the collective city Transit oriented development Combined journeys

10. Question for discussion Which implications does 'global concepts' have for planning on the local level? Thank you for your attention! Mette Nielsen, metten@plan.aau.dk