development of small-scale intermodal freight transportation in a ...

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
There are a lot of people that have helped me to finish my PhD studies with a dissertation
rather than with a desertion. First, I am grateful to Swedish State Railways for generously
funding my research project. Contributions from the Curt NICOLIN CN70-foundation and
the International Road Transport Union (IRU) also made the writing process easier for
which I am truly grateful.
Moreover, I want to express my deepest thanks to professor Lars SJÖSTEDT who has
acted as head supervisor for my research. The supervision and all the late night discussions
on the subject of this dissertation as well as on other subjects have been very fruitful to me,
primarily as a researcher but also as a human being. I am also grateful to professor Dag
BJÖRNLAND and Dr. Anna DUBOIS for giving kind remarks and suggestions for improvement.
Dag and Lars are also the originators of the research project as such.
I am also sincerely grateful to lecturing professor Kenth LUMSDEN for making the practical
matters easier during my time as doctoral student, but also for inspiration and for being
a friend and fellow traveller. Kenth’s thinking on barriers (or thresholds as he wants to call
them) is the seed to chapter 5 that is worked up from articles written together with Kenth.
Also the analysis of requirements for new intermodal technologies in section 7.1 was originally
developed together with Kenth. Co-authors of other material used in the dissertation
are acknowledged throughout the report.
A special “thank you” goes to Dr. Stefan SJÖGREN at School of Economics and Commercial
Law at the University of Göteborg for enjoyable co-operation and for informal lessons
on how to pick up women. My gratitude also extends to the industry officials that have endured
my questions and also supplied intelligent answers and material for the study. I am
especially greatful to Jan-Ola WEDE at Swedish State Railways who let me study “his”
Light-combi project from the inside.
I would also like to thank Per Olof ARNÄS for scanning and editing the numerous pictures
in the detached appendix, and for helping me out when the mysteries of the computer world
became too frustrating. I am also grateful to his mother Lille-Mor who indefatigably has
corrected the language despite the tight schedule. All linguistic errors remaining are caused
by late changes from my keyboard.
A university department is dynamic place of work. Doctoral candidates come and go. Now
it’s my turn to choose whether to stay or to try my fortune outside the walls of the university.
If I choose to stay it is thanks to all the kind colleagues and the nice atmosphere at
work. Thanks for these years and let’s add some more!
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