Richard Mann
@transportparadise.bsky.social
Trains plus walking, cycling and buses. Car-free city centres and 20mph cities.
Given that we're now having some trouble using all the capacity we built for rail commuting into London, there is an opportunity to do a splurge of housebuilding in the London greenbelt around stations.
Not-so-good for 'growth in all parts of the country' though.
Not-so-good for 'growth in all parts of the country' though.
November 20, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Given that we're now having some trouble using all the capacity we built for rail commuting into London, there is an opportunity to do a splurge of housebuilding in the London greenbelt around stations.
Not-so-good for 'growth in all parts of the country' though.
Not-so-good for 'growth in all parts of the country' though.
Broken rail between Basingstoke and Reading. An Oxford-Milton Keynes train would have been really useful this morning.
At the moment it's a standoff between DfT who won't put in extra subsidy to operate the service with guards, and the unions who won't sign off operating it without.
At the moment it's a standoff between DfT who won't put in extra subsidy to operate the service with guards, and the unions who won't sign off operating it without.
November 20, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Broken rail between Basingstoke and Reading. An Oxford-Milton Keynes train would have been really useful this morning.
At the moment it's a standoff between DfT who won't put in extra subsidy to operate the service with guards, and the unions who won't sign off operating it without.
At the moment it's a standoff between DfT who won't put in extra subsidy to operate the service with guards, and the unions who won't sign off operating it without.
This chart by @benansell.bsky.social begs the question of how on earth the Conservatives ever built a majority. The answer is partly that these are averages, partly that the groups have moved over time (and could move again).
November 18, 2025 at 8:19 AM
This chart by @benansell.bsky.social begs the question of how on earth the Conservatives ever built a majority. The answer is partly that these are averages, partly that the groups have moved over time (and could move again).
Given where the voters are, in some ways it makes sense to have an economically-centrist, socially-conservative party.
You're not going to win a majority in that position, but hey.
You're not going to win a majority in that position, but hey.
November 17, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Given where the voters are, in some ways it makes sense to have an economically-centrist, socially-conservative party.
You're not going to win a majority in that position, but hey.
You're not going to win a majority in that position, but hey.
There is currently an outbound queue the length of Botley Road *despite* the closure at the railway bridge.
Seems to be due to the Wickes/Aldi side turning. A reminder that suburban shopping traffic is quite capable of causing congestion on its own.
Seems to be due to the Wickes/Aldi side turning. A reminder that suburban shopping traffic is quite capable of causing congestion on its own.
November 16, 2025 at 1:57 PM
There is currently an outbound queue the length of Botley Road *despite* the closure at the railway bridge.
Seems to be due to the Wickes/Aldi side turning. A reminder that suburban shopping traffic is quite capable of causing congestion on its own.
Seems to be due to the Wickes/Aldi side turning. A reminder that suburban shopping traffic is quite capable of causing congestion on its own.
Probably the most interesting question for high speed rail in Europe is whether they will get past the 3hr non-stop limit to provide international services between large cities.
Best prospect is probably Paris-Barcelona (which would be about 4.5h non-stop, infra 85% complete).
Best prospect is probably Paris-Barcelona (which would be about 4.5h non-stop, infra 85% complete).
November 16, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Probably the most interesting question for high speed rail in Europe is whether they will get past the 3hr non-stop limit to provide international services between large cities.
Best prospect is probably Paris-Barcelona (which would be about 4.5h non-stop, infra 85% complete).
Best prospect is probably Paris-Barcelona (which would be about 4.5h non-stop, infra 85% complete).
LOCATE jobs in city centres where practical
RESTRICT car commuting where there are alternatives
HOUSE people close to suburban employers by building flats
CONNECT suburban jobs to transport hubs
(in that order)
RESTRICT car commuting where there are alternatives
HOUSE people close to suburban employers by building flats
CONNECT suburban jobs to transport hubs
(in that order)
November 13, 2025 at 6:42 PM
LOCATE jobs in city centres where practical
RESTRICT car commuting where there are alternatives
HOUSE people close to suburban employers by building flats
CONNECT suburban jobs to transport hubs
(in that order)
RESTRICT car commuting where there are alternatives
HOUSE people close to suburban employers by building flats
CONNECT suburban jobs to transport hubs
(in that order)
The basic congestion problem is easy to solve: put all the jobs in the city centre, and stop people driving there.
In practice this comes up against the problem that most cities have significant concentrations of jobs in the suburbs (hospitals/universities/business parks).
/1
In practice this comes up against the problem that most cities have significant concentrations of jobs in the suburbs (hospitals/universities/business parks).
/1
November 13, 2025 at 8:32 AM
The basic congestion problem is easy to solve: put all the jobs in the city centre, and stop people driving there.
In practice this comes up against the problem that most cities have significant concentrations of jobs in the suburbs (hospitals/universities/business parks).
/1
In practice this comes up against the problem that most cities have significant concentrations of jobs in the suburbs (hospitals/universities/business parks).
/1
Rail accounts for about 3% of surface transport CO2 emissions.
Battrification of the ~75% that is produced by cars/vans is the priority.
(Battrification of local diesel trains is mostly to reduce operating costs, not to reduce CO2)
Battrification of the ~75% that is produced by cars/vans is the priority.
(Battrification of local diesel trains is mostly to reduce operating costs, not to reduce CO2)
November 10, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Rail accounts for about 3% of surface transport CO2 emissions.
Battrification of the ~75% that is produced by cars/vans is the priority.
(Battrification of local diesel trains is mostly to reduce operating costs, not to reduce CO2)
Battrification of the ~75% that is produced by cars/vans is the priority.
(Battrification of local diesel trains is mostly to reduce operating costs, not to reduce CO2)
Swan or rabbit?
November 6, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Swan or rabbit?
We're at the stage with the Oxford Congestion Charge where drivers are re-routing via the ring road to avoid paying the charge / using their quota.
This has shifted the congestion from Headington/Cowley to the ring road.
This will settle down after a bit, with some switching to bike, bus or paying
This has shifted the congestion from Headington/Cowley to the ring road.
This will settle down after a bit, with some switching to bike, bus or paying
November 6, 2025 at 8:33 AM
We're at the stage with the Oxford Congestion Charge where drivers are re-routing via the ring road to avoid paying the charge / using their quota.
This has shifted the congestion from Headington/Cowley to the ring road.
This will settle down after a bit, with some switching to bike, bus or paying
This has shifted the congestion from Headington/Cowley to the ring road.
This will settle down after a bit, with some switching to bike, bus or paying
Valencia: the third largest Spanish city, 20⁰C in November, dense walk-up apartment blocks, 1km² largely car-free city centre, big trafficky roads outside. /1
November 4, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Valencia: the third largest Spanish city, 20⁰C in November, dense walk-up apartment blocks, 1km² largely car-free city centre, big trafficky roads outside. /1
The solution to Oxford's traffic woes will be bikes (plus walking and buses) for journeys inside the city, and buses (plus park&ride and trains) from outside. Cars pretty much banned. The question is whether we collectively want that.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Could trams or air taxis help solve Oxford's traffic woes?
A congestion charge is the latest policy in Oxford to reduce traffic - but what is the alternative?
www.bbc.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 9:14 PM
The solution to Oxford's traffic woes will be bikes (plus walking and buses) for journeys inside the city, and buses (plus park&ride and trains) from outside. Cars pretty much banned. The question is whether we collectively want that.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
(Not) an early representation of a bicycle in a tapestry in Girona
October 31, 2025 at 1:32 PM
(Not) an early representation of a bicycle in a tapestry in Girona
A very Spanish greeting
October 31, 2025 at 12:59 PM
A very Spanish greeting
*If* you remove all the cars then this can happen
October 30, 2025 at 10:23 AM
*If* you remove all the cars then this can happen
Reposted by Richard Mann
We have real-time monitoring just inside one of the charge points via @telraam.bsky.social
telraam.net/en/location/...
telraam.net/en/location/...
October 29, 2025 at 3:17 PM
We have real-time monitoring just inside one of the charge points via @telraam.bsky.social
telraam.net/en/location/...
telraam.net/en/location/...
Trams, palms and blue sky
October 30, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Trams, palms and blue sky
Happy New Congestion Charge Day, for those who celebrate
October 29, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Happy New Congestion Charge Day, for those who celebrate
Reposted by Richard Mann
Yay. Priceless. The right column at the right time. And a gleefully English two fingers to the haters.
October 25, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Yay. Priceless. The right column at the right time. And a gleefully English two fingers to the haters.
The problem with racism is that it is what our Marxist friends refer to as 'wrong analysis'.
Too many foreigners is not the real source of the problem, and you'd be best advised to suppress your prejudices and focus on solving real problems.
(Class analysis is also mostly just prejudice)
Too many foreigners is not the real source of the problem, and you'd be best advised to suppress your prejudices and focus on solving real problems.
(Class analysis is also mostly just prejudice)
October 22, 2025 at 7:33 AM
The problem with racism is that it is what our Marxist friends refer to as 'wrong analysis'.
Too many foreigners is not the real source of the problem, and you'd be best advised to suppress your prejudices and focus on solving real problems.
(Class analysis is also mostly just prejudice)
Too many foreigners is not the real source of the problem, and you'd be best advised to suppress your prejudices and focus on solving real problems.
(Class analysis is also mostly just prejudice)
Christmas starts in Birmingham soon!
October 21, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Christmas starts in Birmingham soon!
Reposted by Richard Mann
Police used bicycles to separate the protesters and ensure buses could pass through the demonstration safely.
October 18, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Police used bicycles to separate the protesters and ensure buses could pass through the demonstration safely.