*** This post is an adapted version of one part of my #CrossChannelRail Project Final Report *** Let’s get one thing out of the way first: the problems here are nothing to do with the Avelia Horizon trains being double deck. The loading gauge in the Channel Tunnel and HS1 […]
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#CrossChannelRail final report released, and the next steps
After three weeks of research on the ground in spring 2025, dozens of follow conversations, and plenty of desk research, today I finally published the conclusions report from my #CrossChannelRail project – you can download the PDF of the report here. The stations map is also available in a zoomable […]
Renfe, why should we trust a word you say about ticketing?
A post popped up in my Bluesky feed from Renfe: đźš„ Renfe se suma a la declaraciĂłn conjunta @cer-railways.bsky.social y @eurocities.eu para âś… Triplicar el tráfico para 2050âś… Conectar todas las capitales y grandes ciudadesâś… Billetes integrados y financiaciĂłn sostenible¡Una Europa más conectada y verde! 🌍🔗 renfe.com/es/es/grupo-… — Renfe (@renfeoperadora.bsky.social) […]
“News” that RĂ©giolis cross border trains cannot operate in Germany is actually nothing new
The latest setback in the entry into service of the new RĂ©giolis fleet for France-Germany cross border services: now there is a problem with the emergency brakes, Le Republicain Lorrain reported yesterday. While the trains are OK to operate in France, but they do not respect the standards on the […]
We have no intellectual space for big but implementable ideas about railways
There’s this railway joke* where a passenger is at Calais FrĂ©thun station, staring at the “Londres, Ebbsfleet – Voie 3” sign. The passenger stops a gnarled SNCF employee and asks “How do I get to London?” (in French, obviously), and the response is “Well I wouldn’t start from here!” That […]
When a plan’s not a plan, and a revolution isn’t a revolution – European High Speed Rail
Today the European Commission released its “plan to accelerate high-speed rail across Europe” (press release here). Only it’s not a plan. And Community of European Railways (CER), the state owned railways’ trade body, stated this will “revolutionise the way travel distances are perceived in Europe” (press release here). Only this […]
