Ilya Petoushkoff
@petoushkoff.bsky.social
Transport planner with views and opinions.
Formerly of Moscow, Russia.
Currently based in Melbourne, Australia.
Coffee, cities, public transportation, piano music.
Occasional cat noises may occur herein.
🏳️🌈
Formerly of Moscow, Russia.
Currently based in Melbourne, Australia.
Coffee, cities, public transportation, piano music.
Occasional cat noises may occur herein.
🏳️🌈
Produced in 1989 and 1990, two original 81-717/81-714 trains still running in Sofia maintain their Soviet look, with very little change, if any.
(Interestingly, Sofia metro was only opened in 1998, long after the Soviet Union ceased to be!)
Image: Transphoto, by Darai
transphoto.ru/photo/1805750/
(Interestingly, Sofia metro was only opened in 1998, long after the Soviet Union ceased to be!)
Image: Transphoto, by Darai
transphoto.ru/photo/1805750/
November 24, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Produced in 1989 and 1990, two original 81-717/81-714 trains still running in Sofia maintain their Soviet look, with very little change, if any.
(Interestingly, Sofia metro was only opened in 1998, long after the Soviet Union ceased to be!)
Image: Transphoto, by Darai
transphoto.ru/photo/1805750/
(Interestingly, Sofia metro was only opened in 1998, long after the Soviet Union ceased to be!)
Image: Transphoto, by Darai
transphoto.ru/photo/1805750/
A somewhat similar experience is to travel on the last remaining Soviet 81-717/81-714 trains in Sofia, Bulgaria.
These won't last long: the new trains from Skoda are being supplied.
Image: Transphoto, by Dmitriy Romanenkov.
transphoto.ru/photo/2209733/
(The 1989 81-717 train is on the left)
These won't last long: the new trains from Skoda are being supplied.
Image: Transphoto, by Dmitriy Romanenkov.
transphoto.ru/photo/2209733/
(The 1989 81-717 train is on the left)
November 24, 2025 at 9:22 AM
A somewhat similar experience is to travel on the last remaining Soviet 81-717/81-714 trains in Sofia, Bulgaria.
These won't last long: the new trains from Skoda are being supplied.
Image: Transphoto, by Dmitriy Romanenkov.
transphoto.ru/photo/2209733/
(The 1989 81-717 train is on the left)
These won't last long: the new trains from Skoda are being supplied.
Image: Transphoto, by Dmitriy Romanenkov.
transphoto.ru/photo/2209733/
(The 1989 81-717 train is on the left)
The reason was that the shifted door position in the E series (on the left) wouldn't let them fit into the 'horizontal lift' deep-level 'closed-type' stations, as the platform doorway spacing there had been designed with the standard car layout in mind.
(Image to the right: Habr via TechInsider Ru)
(Image to the right: Habr via TechInsider Ru)
November 24, 2025 at 8:33 AM
The reason was that the shifted door position in the E series (on the left) wouldn't let them fit into the 'horizontal lift' deep-level 'closed-type' stations, as the platform doorway spacing there had been designed with the standard car layout in mind.
(Image to the right: Habr via TechInsider Ru)
(Image to the right: Habr via TechInsider Ru)
A heritage train of two original E series in between two Em cars is preserved.
The original E series had an experimental door layout that had to be revised back to standard for Lines 2 and 3 in St.Petersburg resulting in Em/Ezh series.
Image: Transphoto, by 'NeVa'.
transphoto.org/photo/2207461/
The original E series had an experimental door layout that had to be revised back to standard for Lines 2 and 3 in St.Petersburg resulting in Em/Ezh series.
Image: Transphoto, by 'NeVa'.
transphoto.org/photo/2207461/
November 24, 2025 at 8:24 AM
A heritage train of two original E series in between two Em cars is preserved.
The original E series had an experimental door layout that had to be revised back to standard for Lines 2 and 3 in St.Petersburg resulting in Em/Ezh series.
Image: Transphoto, by 'NeVa'.
transphoto.org/photo/2207461/
The original E series had an experimental door layout that had to be revised back to standard for Lines 2 and 3 in St.Petersburg resulting in Em/Ezh series.
Image: Transphoto, by 'NeVa'.
transphoto.org/photo/2207461/
The last remaining Soviet 'Em' series metro trains in Russia, in operation in the city of St.Petersburg, were finally withdrawn from service this month.
Images from Transphoto by:
- Matvey Boksov (exterior) transphoto.org/photo/2197130/
- 'Imgetawaycar' (interior)
transphoto.org/photo/2021299/
Images from Transphoto by:
- Matvey Boksov (exterior) transphoto.org/photo/2197130/
- 'Imgetawaycar' (interior)
transphoto.org/photo/2021299/
November 24, 2025 at 8:10 AM
The last remaining Soviet 'Em' series metro trains in Russia, in operation in the city of St.Petersburg, were finally withdrawn from service this month.
Images from Transphoto by:
- Matvey Boksov (exterior) transphoto.org/photo/2197130/
- 'Imgetawaycar' (interior)
transphoto.org/photo/2021299/
Images from Transphoto by:
- Matvey Boksov (exterior) transphoto.org/photo/2197130/
- 'Imgetawaycar' (interior)
transphoto.org/photo/2021299/
Jaime Lerner knew about this problem and that is exactly the reason why Curitiba BRT buses are equipped with automated folding ramps in every door.
November 19, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Jaime Lerner knew about this problem and that is exactly the reason why Curitiba BRT buses are equipped with automated folding ramps in every door.
As the public gets to experience this completely new level of access to the city they live in, and the brilliant modern driverless rail technology behind it, now is the best time ever to come back to the important conversation focused on bringing REM de l'Est to reality, too.
November 17, 2025 at 12:41 PM
As the public gets to experience this completely new level of access to the city they live in, and the brilliant modern driverless rail technology behind it, now is the best time ever to come back to the important conversation focused on bringing REM de l'Est to reality, too.
Great news from Montréal where the REM has finally become a major cross-city route.
The wise decision to retrofit Édouard-Monpetit and McGill stations into the original rail tunnel REM has taken over has resulted in a highly connected network with tens of thousands of existing trips streamlined.
The wise decision to retrofit Édouard-Monpetit and McGill stations into the original rail tunnel REM has taken over has resulted in a highly connected network with tens of thousands of existing trips streamlined.
November 17, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Great news from Montréal where the REM has finally become a major cross-city route.
The wise decision to retrofit Édouard-Monpetit and McGill stations into the original rail tunnel REM has taken over has resulted in a highly connected network with tens of thousands of existing trips streamlined.
The wise decision to retrofit Édouard-Monpetit and McGill stations into the original rail tunnel REM has taken over has resulted in a highly connected network with tens of thousands of existing trips streamlined.
another confirmation that we all live in the matrix
November 10, 2025 at 7:03 AM
another confirmation that we all live in the matrix
in case anyone thinks I was joking:
October 5, 2025 at 12:38 PM
in case anyone thinks I was joking:
While not related to international tickets (and, in fact, received against my inquiry about issues with tickets for a domestic intercity train), I can't help myself from sharing this amazing customer service response that made my day sometime back in 2017. 😀
September 28, 2025 at 12:30 AM
While not related to international tickets (and, in fact, received against my inquiry about issues with tickets for a domestic intercity train), I can't help myself from sharing this amazing customer service response that made my day sometime back in 2017. 😀
I am unable to understand how the 'flying-only' model of nation-wide passenger transport is socially acceptable.
Just a bit of an extra demand, and the tickets went up by eight hundred percent. The twice-weekly train won't run tomorrow because of the track work, and the few buses are sold-out.
Just a bit of an extra demand, and the tickets went up by eight hundred percent. The twice-weekly train won't run tomorrow because of the track work, and the few buses are sold-out.
September 5, 2025 at 5:49 AM
I am unable to understand how the 'flying-only' model of nation-wide passenger transport is socially acceptable.
Just a bit of an extra demand, and the tickets went up by eight hundred percent. The twice-weekly train won't run tomorrow because of the track work, and the few buses are sold-out.
Just a bit of an extra demand, and the tickets went up by eight hundred percent. The twice-weekly train won't run tomorrow because of the track work, and the few buses are sold-out.
the concluding paragraphs of this article represent the most... unconventional opinion I've ever read or heard from anyone on anything transportation
September 5, 2025 at 1:56 AM
the concluding paragraphs of this article represent the most... unconventional opinion I've ever read or heard from anyone on anything transportation
I understand that this is important but I can't quite put in words how incredibly annoying it is that this is trying to force close my five thousand open Word documents as I am in the middle of working on something quite complex.
August 21, 2025 at 12:47 AM
I understand that this is important but I can't quite put in words how incredibly annoying it is that this is trying to force close my five thousand open Word documents as I am in the middle of working on something quite complex.
Naples, Line 1, also known for the wild topography it traverses in a rather peculiar way (for an urban rail line).
August 17, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Naples, Line 1, also known for the wild topography it traverses in a rather peculiar way (for an urban rail line).
I don't know who needs to hear this but it is well past time to redesign Pacific Hwy as a proper street.
Those six lanes just don't really properly fit in the available space.
The pedestrian environment is inadequate, and cycling infrastructure in this important corridor somehow just doesn't exist.
Those six lanes just don't really properly fit in the available space.
The pedestrian environment is inadequate, and cycling infrastructure in this important corridor somehow just doesn't exist.
August 12, 2025 at 1:35 PM
I don't know who needs to hear this but it is well past time to redesign Pacific Hwy as a proper street.
Those six lanes just don't really properly fit in the available space.
The pedestrian environment is inadequate, and cycling infrastructure in this important corridor somehow just doesn't exist.
Those six lanes just don't really properly fit in the available space.
The pedestrian environment is inadequate, and cycling infrastructure in this important corridor somehow just doesn't exist.
Melbourne Airport Rail Business Case shows massive benefits from linking Sunshine and the Airport with rail: approx. 60' of travel time saved!
In fact, this had nothing to do with the railway, and everything to do with the absence of this bus—in reality and in their year 2031 modelling assumptions.
In fact, this had nothing to do with the railway, and everything to do with the absence of this bus—in reality and in their year 2031 modelling assumptions.
August 8, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Melbourne Airport Rail Business Case shows massive benefits from linking Sunshine and the Airport with rail: approx. 60' of travel time saved!
In fact, this had nothing to do with the railway, and everything to do with the absence of this bus—in reality and in their year 2031 modelling assumptions.
In fact, this had nothing to do with the railway, and everything to do with the absence of this bus—in reality and in their year 2031 modelling assumptions.
A similarly crappy bridge can be seen in Epping.
Functional, yes, but the aesthetics is non-existent.
It makes the already terrible street environment here even worse.
Functional, yes, but the aesthetics is non-existent.
It makes the already terrible street environment here even worse.
August 8, 2025 at 9:23 AM
A similarly crappy bridge can be seen in Epping.
Functional, yes, but the aesthetics is non-existent.
It makes the already terrible street environment here even worse.
Functional, yes, but the aesthetics is non-existent.
It makes the already terrible street environment here even worse.
This is the bus of Kyneton, Victoria.
Not a bus, but the bus.
It runs on all four Kyneton's routes, all of which serve the rail station and the city centre, which are just enough far from one another for walking not to be convenient.
Not a bus, but the bus.
It runs on all four Kyneton's routes, all of which serve the rail station and the city centre, which are just enough far from one another for walking not to be convenient.
July 30, 2025 at 10:50 AM
This is the bus of Kyneton, Victoria.
Not a bus, but the bus.
It runs on all four Kyneton's routes, all of which serve the rail station and the city centre, which are just enough far from one another for walking not to be convenient.
Not a bus, but the bus.
It runs on all four Kyneton's routes, all of which serve the rail station and the city centre, which are just enough far from one another for walking not to be convenient.
side-note: the roof is impressive, but they really should've designed it just a bit wider to protect people getting on/off the trams from the rain
July 28, 2025 at 12:18 AM
side-note: the roof is impressive, but they really should've designed it just a bit wider to protect people getting on/off the trams from the rain
in Soviet Russia:
July 22, 2025 at 2:42 AM
in Soviet Russia:
It can happen on large, frequent, conventional systems, too.
Until recently, Moscow's Vykhino station has been a 'perfect storm' of a case, as it was the faster and cheaper way to anywhere for most people coming in with regional trains (every 4...5' with packed trains twice the size).
Until recently, Moscow's Vykhino station has been a 'perfect storm' of a case, as it was the faster and cheaper way to anywhere for most people coming in with regional trains (every 4...5' with packed trains twice the size).
July 20, 2025 at 12:54 PM
It can happen on large, frequent, conventional systems, too.
Until recently, Moscow's Vykhino station has been a 'perfect storm' of a case, as it was the faster and cheaper way to anywhere for most people coming in with regional trains (every 4...5' with packed trains twice the size).
Until recently, Moscow's Vykhino station has been a 'perfect storm' of a case, as it was the faster and cheaper way to anywhere for most people coming in with regional trains (every 4...5' with packed trains twice the size).
I also wonder what impact that body damage resulted from.
July 15, 2025 at 2:21 PM
I also wonder what impact that body damage resulted from.