Railmaps
@railmaps.com.au
Publisher of rail maps & public transport timetables. Photographer, public transport advocate and enjoyer of irony and life’s little incongruities. Ethics matter more than politics.
There is currently a shortfall of 28,000 truck drivers across Australia, which is forecast to increase to 78,000 by 2029.
And road freight volumes are projected to grow by around 56% between 2018 and 2040.
It's a complete and utter mystery how we solve this problem.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
And road freight volumes are projected to grow by around 56% between 2018 and 2040.
It's a complete and utter mystery how we solve this problem.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
Truck driver shortage puts squeeze on Australia's supply chain
Australia's road transport industry is facing a growing driver shortage driven by an aging workforce and limited recruitment of younger people.
www.abc.net.au
January 2, 2026 at 4:21 AM
There is currently a shortfall of 28,000 truck drivers across Australia, which is forecast to increase to 78,000 by 2029.
And road freight volumes are projected to grow by around 56% between 2018 and 2040.
It's a complete and utter mystery how we solve this problem.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
And road freight volumes are projected to grow by around 56% between 2018 and 2040.
It's a complete and utter mystery how we solve this problem.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
Today's historic pic: Exactly 38 years ago today, A2 class tram no 281 running a route 111 trip to Port Melbourne leaves the station at Graham Street, January 2 1988. This was just 2 weeks after the line had re-opened as a standard gauge tramway after conversion from a broad gauge heavy railway.
January 2, 2026 at 1:52 AM
Today's historic pic: Exactly 38 years ago today, A2 class tram no 281 running a route 111 trip to Port Melbourne leaves the station at Graham Street, January 2 1988. This was just 2 weeks after the line had re-opened as a standard gauge tramway after conversion from a broad gauge heavy railway.
It’s a new year, which is as good a time as any for a short thread.
First up, a Happy New Year to you all. For those who value rationality, truth and ethics, let’s hope we see the pendulum of global discourse swing back to somewhere sane. It absolutely will do, it’s just a question of when.
1/6
First up, a Happy New Year to you all. For those who value rationality, truth and ethics, let’s hope we see the pendulum of global discourse swing back to somewhere sane. It absolutely will do, it’s just a question of when.
1/6
January 1, 2026 at 7:51 AM
It’s a new year, which is as good a time as any for a short thread.
First up, a Happy New Year to you all. For those who value rationality, truth and ethics, let’s hope we see the pendulum of global discourse swing back to somewhere sane. It absolutely will do, it’s just a question of when.
1/6
First up, a Happy New Year to you all. For those who value rationality, truth and ethics, let’s hope we see the pendulum of global discourse swing back to somewhere sane. It absolutely will do, it’s just a question of when.
1/6
New Year's Eve 2026.
Or should it be NYE 2025?
Or should it be NYE 2025?
January 1, 2026 at 2:24 AM
New Year's Eve 2026.
Or should it be NYE 2025?
Or should it be NYE 2025?
The US civil war started in 1861 and never ended. It just went a bit quiet for a century and a half. Until now.
Exclusive: ICE officials plan to spend $100 million to recruit gun-rights supporters and military enthusiasts through online influencers and a geo-targeted ad campaign, part of what the agency called a “wartime recruitment” strategy to hire thousands of officers, according to an internal document.
ICE plans $100 million ‘wartime recruitment’ push targeting gun shows, military fans
An internal ICE document shared among immigration officials details plans to use influencers and geo-targeted ads to rapidly hire thousands of deportation officers.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 1, 2026 at 2:11 AM
The US civil war started in 1861 and never ended. It just went a bit quiet for a century and a half. Until now.
Reposted by Railmaps
Plan your city for people, and you get people.
Sydney pedestrianised George Street, controversially replacing lanes of traffic with a Light Rail line in 2019. The city has never looked back.
Sydney pedestrianised George Street, controversially replacing lanes of traffic with a Light Rail line in 2019. The city has never looked back.
December 29, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Plan your city for people, and you get people.
Sydney pedestrianised George Street, controversially replacing lanes of traffic with a Light Rail line in 2019. The city has never looked back.
Sydney pedestrianised George Street, controversially replacing lanes of traffic with a Light Rail line in 2019. The city has never looked back.
Today's historic pic: Candy-liveried Alco branchline diesel loco 4808 sits at Queanbeyan, NSW, April 2 1987. NSW Railways' 48 class, with 165 members, was Australia's most numerous type of diesel loco, even more so if you add the almost identical Silverton diesels and SAR's 830s.
January 1, 2026 at 1:23 AM
Today's historic pic: Candy-liveried Alco branchline diesel loco 4808 sits at Queanbeyan, NSW, April 2 1987. NSW Railways' 48 class, with 165 members, was Australia's most numerous type of diesel loco, even more so if you add the almost identical Silverton diesels and SAR's 830s.
Reposted by Railmaps
EXCLUSIVE: @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social will be sworn in as mayor on midnight on January 1 inside the old abandoned City Hall subway station, saying that he sees the venue as a symbol for the aims of his upcoming administration.
EXCLUSIVE: Mamdani Will Be Sworn In At Abandoned Original City Hall Subway Station
The mayor-elect will kick off a new era by throwing things back to an older one.
buff.ly
December 29, 2025 at 12:01 PM
EXCLUSIVE: @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social will be sworn in as mayor on midnight on January 1 inside the old abandoned City Hall subway station, saying that he sees the venue as a symbol for the aims of his upcoming administration.
Damned humans, always buggering up perfectly good technology.
December 31, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Damned humans, always buggering up perfectly good technology.
Today's historic pic: Exactly 40 years ago today, Melbourne W2 class tram no 545 on a route 48 from North Balwyn queues behind an SW6, W6 or W7 tram and Z3 123 to use the then-terminus crossover at Lonsdale Street in Spencer Street, Melbourne, December 31 1985. W2s last ran in 1987.
December 31, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Today's historic pic: Exactly 40 years ago today, Melbourne W2 class tram no 545 on a route 48 from North Balwyn queues behind an SW6, W6 or W7 tram and Z3 123 to use the then-terminus crossover at Lonsdale Street in Spencer Street, Melbourne, December 31 1985. W2s last ran in 1987.
I once didn't speak with Mark Speakman, because I was worried it might induce a singularity.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Sp...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Sp...
December 30, 2025 at 9:55 AM
I once didn't speak with Mark Speakman, because I was worried it might induce a singularity.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Sp...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Sp...
Reposted by Railmaps
A couple of XPTs for you, seen this afternoon north of Kendall on NSW's Mid North Coast
December 30, 2025 at 9:10 AM
A couple of XPTs for you, seen this afternoon north of Kendall on NSW's Mid North Coast
Today's historic pic: Two-car diesel set 731/631 about to depart for Sandgate Cemetery sits next to electric set NC 3 bound for Fassifern at the former terminus at Newcastle, NSW, June 10 1985. Sandgate Cemetery trains, which ran weekends only, last ran four months after this pic was taken.
December 30, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Today's historic pic: Two-car diesel set 731/631 about to depart for Sandgate Cemetery sits next to electric set NC 3 bound for Fassifern at the former terminus at Newcastle, NSW, June 10 1985. Sandgate Cemetery trains, which ran weekends only, last ran four months after this pic was taken.
I finally got pics of this happening.
December 29, 2025 at 9:05 AM
I finally got pics of this happening.
Today’s historic pic: 36 years ago today, Ballarat tram 26 on a BTPS trip in Wendouree Pde, Ballarat, Vic, December 29 1989. Built in 1916, for the Hawthorn Tramways as no 5, she was Melbourne M class no 111 until 1930 then Ballarat no 26 until 1971. She is still at the Ballarat Tramway Museum today
December 29, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Today’s historic pic: 36 years ago today, Ballarat tram 26 on a BTPS trip in Wendouree Pde, Ballarat, Vic, December 29 1989. Built in 1916, for the Hawthorn Tramways as no 5, she was Melbourne M class no 111 until 1930 then Ballarat no 26 until 1971. She is still at the Ballarat Tramway Museum today
A prediction for 2026:
Trump will announce the US Treasury will start printing $500 notes featuring his image on them.
Trump will announce the US Treasury will start printing $500 notes featuring his image on them.
December 29, 2025 at 12:25 AM
A prediction for 2026:
Trump will announce the US Treasury will start printing $500 notes featuring his image on them.
Trump will announce the US Treasury will start printing $500 notes featuring his image on them.
Probably the first person in history to do that to himself.
Some humans just aren't very good at tracking 2d coordinate transforms in their heads. www.reddit.com/r/Unexpected...
From the Unexpected community on Reddit: Human motion capture teleoperated robot exactly like Real Steel!
Explore this post and more from the Unexpected community
www.reddit.com
December 28, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Probably the first person in history to do that to himself.
Some observations from my Munnelation today. It was great to finally get to see Town Hall station.
These roof supports are attractive. Are they meant to evoke the cathedral above? I know it's hardly a like for like comparison, but they reminded me a tiny bit of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
These roof supports are attractive. Are they meant to evoke the cathedral above? I know it's hardly a like for like comparison, but they reminded me a tiny bit of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
December 28, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Some observations from my Munnelation today. It was great to finally get to see Town Hall station.
These roof supports are attractive. Are they meant to evoke the cathedral above? I know it's hardly a like for like comparison, but they reminded me a tiny bit of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
These roof supports are attractive. Are they meant to evoke the cathedral above? I know it's hardly a like for like comparison, but they reminded me a tiny bit of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
D'oh Tracks. Of course.
The symbolism only just got through my thick skull.
The symbolism only just got through my thick skull.
December 28, 2025 at 3:26 AM
D'oh Tracks. Of course.
The symbolism only just got through my thick skull.
The symbolism only just got through my thick skull.
Melbourne has turned it up to 11 today.
December 28, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Melbourne has turned it up to 11 today.
I am in a very good place today!
December 28, 2025 at 3:03 AM
I am in a very good place today!
Today's historic pic: The southbound Canberra Monaro Express formed of a DEB set with a 620/720 class 2-car diesel attached at rear, calls at Michelago, NSW, October 10, 1983. This is the only time I saw a 2-car diesel on this line (so I went for a ride). No trains now run here.
December 28, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Today's historic pic: The southbound Canberra Monaro Express formed of a DEB set with a 620/720 class 2-car diesel attached at rear, calls at Michelago, NSW, October 10, 1983. This is the only time I saw a 2-car diesel on this line (so I went for a ride). No trains now run here.
When a whole industry of Pardon Lobbying springs up around US$1million fees to buy access to a sick old man to beg for pardons, you know the US has a constitutional crisis. But it also has an ethical crisis, because many (Trump included) don't even understand the problem.
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Inside the New Fast Track to a Presidential Pardon
Even some of the president’s closest advisers have been surprised by a number of the recent series of pardons.
www.wsj.com
December 27, 2025 at 11:09 PM
When a whole industry of Pardon Lobbying springs up around US$1million fees to buy access to a sick old man to beg for pardons, you know the US has a constitutional crisis. But it also has an ethical crisis, because many (Trump included) don't even understand the problem.
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...