Phasing out systems: lessons from the historical dismantling of tramways in France

What is it about?

Sustainability challenges call for fundamental system transformations. This requires innovation to develop new ways of doing things (like renewable energy or pesticide-free agriculture) but also the phase-out or transformation of established systems (like fossil fuels or car-dependence). This paper is about phasing out established infrastructures, and looks at the history of tramways in France in search for lessons. Tramways, a once central public transport mode in major French cities, became the object of an exceptionally rapid dismantling programme from 1929 to 1937. The paper shows, however, that as dramatic as this dismantling programme may appear, it has to be situated in the context of a long-standing deterioration of the tramway system, due to lack of maintenance investments and a failure to implement a modernisation programme to maintain its relevance and appeal.

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Why is it important?

At a time when we need to urgently put an end to unsustainable practices and systems (such as coal, conventional agriculture or intensive resource extraction), it is important to better understand how system phase out occurs and may be supported. Phase-out pledges and objectives are essential, but tend to be preceded by less eventful long-term destabilisation processes. Little is yet known about system destabilisation and its different possible outcomes, which include total decline, partial decline, transformation, or continuity.

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