The City and the Railway in Europe (Historical Urban Studies S.)

The advent and development of railways during the 19th century not only contributed to industrialization and urbanization, but transformed relations of space and time, altering long held perceptions and experiences of distance and geography. The construction of railway networks linking stations and facilities in various cities has shaped the organization of many territories, with results that still influence modern life and pose questions that have relevance today. How were these networks designed and how were such decisions of territorial and urban planning made? How were debates framed and resolved among the various interested parties (such as financial investors, technical specialists, entrepreneurs, political representatives and local interest groups) concerned with the development of urban railways? How did the specific requirements of individual cities impact upon the design and realization of these networks? This volume examines such questions from a variety of standpoints. On one level it looks at the theoretical or “visionary” models developed in response to the development of railways, exploring themes of network theory, town planning, architectural design and social concepts of the city. As well as engaging with these wider theoretical models, each contribution also takes a specific city and examines the local consequences of the ways in which such models were implemented. By utilizing diverse and multi-layered ways of considering such issues, this volume provides an insight into the complex issues of railway development and urban history.