High speed boosts rail
The iron road is a 19th century invention that is set to flourish in the 21st. After being threatened by extinction in the face of ...
Cycling in Italy
In response to a couple of comments on my previous blog, I have now reached Bologna, my destination, after 950 miles. Yes, Italy has been a rather different experience. The main roads are very busy and so often are the alternatives. While in France it was easy to find alternatives and really see France Profonde, that has been more difficult in Italy. The towns, too, are different with several having a really significant number of cyclists. The centers are invariably pedestrianised or have traffic restricted, and that makes it very pleasant to cycle. The cycle lanes on the outskirts are mostly pretty lousy, and there are even examples of the Harlow type cyclists dismount signs where you have a cycle lane broken up several times with signs to say you no longer have priority - at least, though, they do not tell you to 'bici a mane', the equivalent of cyclists dismount. The drivers are mostly pretty courteous to cyclists, though having trucks thunder by at 70 mph a few centimetres away is not an experience I want to repeat too often. Off to take the train ...
Rail 646: Franchising and Network Rail in the spotlight
Posted under Rail Magazine
My oft-repeated question of ‘what is franchising for?’ will need to be answered by the new government as it faces a tricky situation in relation to train operators. On the one hand, both parties in the coalition support the notion of longer franchises, with more investment coming from operators, but, on the other, the financial constraints caused by the budget deficit mean that there will be pressure from the Treasury to maximise premium payments. Therefore the question will resonate. Is franchising ...
Open letter to the new transport secretary
Posted under Transport Times
Dear new transport secretary, You poor sap. I wonder why on earth you have taken this job and I am sure you will soon, too once you are faced by hordes of angry rail passengers. You are in for nothing but trouble and then worse. Its bad enough on the roads and in the air but I will confine myself to the issues you face on the railways. Superficially, all is hunky dory on the tracks. Usage is at an all time ...
Financial Times
Rail Magazine
Rail 646: Franchising and Network Rail in the spotlight
My oft-repeated question of ‘what is franchising for?’ will need to be answered by the new government as it faces a tricky situation in relation ...
Rail Magazine
Rail 645: Can Libdems leaven Tory cuts?
Who would ever have guessed that we are where we are with a ConLib coalition that includes a Libdem junior transport minister and a mishmash ...
Wall Street Journal
No replacement for internal combustion engine on horizon
The hallmark of a good design is longevity and the internal combustion engine has survived decades with only relatively minor modifications. But the threat of ...
Wall Street Journal
High speed rail spreads around the world
Building a high-speed rail line between London and the North of England was one of the few policy areas on which all three of the ...
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