Training and development remain a specific challenge within the rail sector, as apart from the legal obligations, many training hours are needed and required to bring new employees up to a level to perform their …
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UK designed foiling fast ferry enters build phase (TheEngineer)
A demonstrator “Tri-foiler” ferry designed by Southampton naval architect Chartwell Marine could take to the water as soon as March 2025. Currently being built by Southampton composites specialist Designcraft the vessel – a high speed electric trimaran …
Continue readingJourney by Design: Need to Think Bigger about Look & Feel of Public Transport (JonathanBray)
Why do we need to think bigger about the look and feel of public transport? Because the market is changing – Leisure is the new growth area for rail. Because buses are struggling with decline. …
Continue readingAmtrak Doubles Down on False Claims to Attack Penn Station Through-Running (PedestrianObvs)
Amtrak just released its report a week and a half ago, saying that Penn Expansion, the project to condemn the Manhattan block south of Penn Station to add new tracks, is necessary for new capacity. …
Continue readingFriday Reads – 25 October 2024
• East West Rail: First train tests on multi-billion pound route (BBC) • Paddington tube station design error is finally righted after a century! (London Rail) • Exploring Paris Métro Line 11’s eastern extension (Fabric …
Continue readingMonday’s Friday Reads – 7 October 2024
• A train driver responds (BusAndTrainUser) • North & West London Lines – Driver’s Eye View (Train_Paul 94) • Europe-wide train ticketing – only EU law is going to fix this mess (Jon Worth) • …
Continue readingStandardizing Stations & Rolling Stock the Right Way in the US (PedObservations)
Picking consistent standards in order to make use of economies of scale is an important part of good planning. In our construction costs report, we attribute a high cost premium on systems and finishes in New …
Continue readingThe Meaning, & Analysis, of Construction Costs Per Rider (PedestrianObservations)
I’ve written a lot about urban rail construction costs per kilometer, but from time to time, my colleagues and I have been asked about what happens if we compare costs, not per kilometer, but per rider. …
Continue readingThe Lost Art of Passenger Comfort & Good Design – Railway Interiors Part 1
Modern trains are expected to handle crush loads at times, rough use and vandalism, yet have pleasing interiors and comfortable seating that will last in good condition for 15-20 years or more. In addition, the …
Continue readingStation Dwell Times, Anglosphere Incuriosity, & NYC’s Penn Station’s Expansion Proposal (PedestrianObservations)
This is the second part of my series about the Regional Plan Association event about expanding capacity at Penn Station. Much of the presentation, at least in its first half, betrays wanton ignorance, with which area power …
Continue readingHigh Wages and Baumol’s Cost Disease (PedestrianObserations)
The Baumol effect is a mechanism for how the real costs of goods and services can rise over time: wages rise due to economy-wide productivity growth, including in sectors with no productivity growth, and this raises their …
Continue readingGuangzhou’s Massive new Railway Station: A Stadium-sized Cathedral to Train Travel
Guangzhou, perhaps more familiar by its anglicised name of Canton, is a port megacity in Southern China. It sits alongside Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and several other cities in the Asian economic powerhouse that is Pearl …
Continue readingFriday Reads – 9 August 2024
• TfL to push forward with DLR Thamesmead extension after consultation (Rail Magazine) • Elizabeth line: Toiletless trains blamed for forced door openings (BBC) • Holborn’s Secret Platforms (BusAndTrainUser) • Cockfosters station – an appraisal …
Continue readingMonday’s Friday Reads – 5 August 2024
• Design Language Basics for TfL’s Digital Displays (TfL Blog) • Making the Multi-Colour London Transport Museum roundel: Video (Hidden London Hangouts) • So What’s the fare? A Short History of Cab Fares in London …
Continue readingAnglosphere Costs and Inequality (PedestrianObservations)
After my last post detailing how high American subway construction costs cannot be attributed to high incomes, people in comments were talking about inequality instead. Matt was talking about lack of union power, calling high US …
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