Integrating social sustainability in double track railway expansion; a closer look at decision making and stakeholder dynamics in a Swedish context

dc.contributor.authorCervantes, Levi
dc.contributor.authorHawby, Åse
dc.contributor.departmentChalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE)sv
dc.contributor.departmentChalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE)en
dc.contributor.examinerBuser, Martine
dc.contributor.supervisorvan der Leer, Janneke
dc.date.accessioned2025-06-30T10:44:24Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.date.submitted
dc.description.abstractThe expansion of railway infrastructure is a central component of sustainable mobility strategies, yet the integration of social sustainability into such projects remains underdeveloped in Sweden. Despite the potential for railway investments to foster accessibility, inclusion, and quality of life, these aspects are often overshadowed by economic and environmental priorities. This study aims to investigate how decision- making processes and stakeholder dynamics influence the integration of social sustainability in double-track railway expansion projects between large and medium sized cities in Sweden. Anchored in Social Impact Assessment (SIA), stakeholder theory, and Arnstein’s Ladder of Participation, this research examines two case studies: the Gothenburg-Trollhättan and Ängelholm-Maria projects. Data were collected through document analysis and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, including transport agencies, contractors, and consultants. The findings reveal that while social impacts such as accessibility and daily life improvements are recognized, their prioritization is often reactive and lacks coherence, largely dependent on individual actors, champions, rather than systematic frameworks. Decision-making processes tend to emphasize economic feasibility, with consultation processes frequently limited to informing or consultation levels on Arnstein’s ladder, thus marginalizing deeper forms of citizen influence. The study concludes that the absence of formalized SIA frameworks in Sweden hinders the proactive integration of social sustainability in railway infrastructure projects. It recommends the development of standardized SIA guidelines to strengthen social outcomes in future projects
dc.identifier.coursecodeACEX30
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12380/309773
dc.language.isoeng
dc.setspec.uppsokTechnology
dc.subjectSocial Sustainability; Railway Infrastructure; Decision-Making Processes; Stakeholder Dynamics; Social Impact Assessment; SIA; Double-Track Railway; Infrastructure Planning; Arnstein’s Ladder of Participation; Stakeholder Theory; Participation; Consultation; Sweden; Governance; Power Dynamics; Sustainable Transport.
dc.titleIntegrating social sustainability in double track railway expansion; a closer look at decision making and stakeholder dynamics in a Swedish context
dc.type.degreeExamensarbete för masterexamensv
dc.type.degreeMaster's Thesisen
dc.type.uppsokH
local.programmeDesign and construction project management (MPDCM), MSc

Ladda ner

Original bundle

Visar 1 - 1 av 1
Hämtar...
Bild (thumbnail)
Namn:
ACEX30 - Levi Cervantes and Åse Hawby.pdf
Storlek:
11.8 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format

License bundle

Visar 1 - 1 av 1
Hämtar...
Bild (thumbnail)
Namn:
license.txt
Storlek:
2.35 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Beskrivning: