Attractive Mobile Corridors - The Power of Light Rail Infrastructures:Attractive Mobile Corridors - The Power of Light Rail Infrastructures

Light rail is a popular tool in urban development strategies in many European cities. One argument for choosing a rail-based solution is that it signals stability to investors and will attract development and investments in the corridor. The choice of corridor in the various light rail cities are based on different rationalities: generating urban growth by investments in new housing and businesses, regeneration of urban space, facilitation for a car-free urban lifestyle etc. The main argument of this paper is that light rail corridors are not only providing access, but also gentrifies and redistributes urban space. Furthermore light rail is not only a physical infrastructure but also an infrastructure of power that is carefully planned and designed creating both mental and physical patterns of mobilities and immobilities. Hence it is important to underline that mobility systems, such as light rail, are not just ‘passive’ settings they should be understood in relations to power. The study is based in the new mobilities paradigm and the main argument is supported by previous studies showing that mobility systems and mobile technologies are not just neutral tools for the contemporary urban planner, they are framed and staged from above by politicians and planners and they should be seen in relation to different values present in this process. The empirical evidence presented in this article is based on case studies in two European cities where a new light rail system has recently been introduced; Angers in 2011 and Bergen in 2010