@FediGarden@social.growyourown.services avatar FediGarden , to random

Rail.chat is a Mastodon server for rail fans, discussing passenger and freight rail, transit and other non-car options, and the economic, environmental and equity benefits.

:Fediverse: https://rail.chat

You can find out more at https://rail.chat/about or contact the admin account @conductor

@Eric_ours_polaire@gayfr.social avatar Eric_ours_polaire , to random French

🇫🇷 Aujourd'hui, j'ai scanné des photos d'août 2001 lorsque j'ai visité le musée des transports à Nürnberg (DE). Une première série avec :

  1. L'avant aérodynamique des SVT (Schnell Verbrennungstriebwagen) type Hamburg qui assuraient dans les années 1930 des relations rapides entre Berlin et Hamburg d'où leur surnom "Fliegender Hambuger". Ce design aérodynamique a été repris par d'autres pays comme les Pays-Bas, la Belgique ou encore la France.

  2. Le confort spartiate pour le conducteur de cette locomotive E 33 datant des années 1920... A comparer avec le confort des postes de conduites actuels...

  3. Confort de conduite "socialiste" avec le poste de conduite d'une locomotive série E11 de la DR (Chemins de fer de la RDA entre 1949 et 1994).

  4. Symbole de puissance et de rapidité, les rames TEE VT 11.5 de DB (chemins de fer fédéraux Ouest-Allemands entre 1949 et 1994) datant des années 1950. La décennie appelée outre Rhin "Wirtschaftswunder" (miracle économique) a été celle du lancement du réseau TransEuropExpress qui reliait les grandes villes européennes (de l'Ouest). Ces rames étaient engagées dans des relations entre l'Allemagne, le Benelux, la France, la Suisse et même l'Italie. A noter que les DSB (chemins de fer danois) avaient acquis des rames semblables pour le service intérieur et les fameux "Lyntog" dont j'ai parlé hier.

A suivre...

Bonne soirée! 👋 🙂

🇬🇧 Today I scanned photos from August 2001 when I visited the Transport Museum in Nürnberg (DE). A first set with :

  1. The aerodynamic front of the Hamburg-type SVT DMUs (Schnell Verbrennungstriebwagen) which provided rapid connections between Berlin and Hamburg in the 1930s, hence their nickname "Fliegender Hambuger". This aerodynamic design has been taken over by other countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium and France.

  2. Spartan comfort for the driver of this Class E 33 locomotive dating from the 1920s... Compare with the comfort of current driving stations...

  3. "Socialist" driving comfort with the driver's cabin of a DR Class E11 locomotive (GDR Railways between 1949 and 1994).

  4. A symbol of power and speed, DB's TEE VT 11.5 trainsets (West German federal railways between 1949 and 1994) dating from the 1950s. The decade called "Wirtschaftswunder" (economic wonder) in Western Germany. This decade saw the rise of the TransEuropExpress network which connected major European (Western) cities. These trains were engaged in relations between Germany, the Benelux, France, Switzerland and even Italy. Note that the DSB (Danish railways) had acquired similar trains for the domestic service and the famous "Lyntog" which I spoke about yesterday.

To be continued...

Have a nice evening! 👋 🙂

Poste de conduite très spartiate d'une locomotive des années 1920. Very spartan driver's cab of a electric locomotive from the 1920's.
Poste de conduite d'une locomotive moderne des années 1960's des chemins de fer est-allemands. Driver's cab of a modern electric locomotive from the 1960's produced in Eastern-Germany.
Vue de l'avant imposant d'une rame diesel puissante pour les trains TEE. View of the imposing front of a strong diesel trainset for the TEE services.

ALT
@ChrisMayLA6@zirk.us avatar ChrisMayLA6 , to random

Some good news for the North of England as long delayed plans for the Northern Powerhouse Rail looks to be about to get under way.

That said, there's many a slip twixt cup & lip, and this looks to be more about planning & intent that actual work on the ground.... but we can for now hope that actual rail construction will follow, not just more money flowing to (London based?) consultants.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/13/northern-powerhouse-rail-project-pledge-funds

@CLondoner92@mastodonapp.uk avatar CLondoner92 , to random

Over 600 Cabinet Office files have been released under the 20-year rule, covering Tony Blair’s Labour government, 2004–2005. They include correspondence, policy papers, and detailed records on the privatisation of Rail, notably CAB164-2253, which covers legislative strategy for the Act 1993, franchise planning, pensions, and freight operations. Other files relate to Kim Philby’s archive, the 2012 Olympics bid, and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. More than 80 documents are digitised and available online via The National Archives, with the remainder accessible in person at The National Archives in Kew, south-west .
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/news/more-than-600-government-files-released-under-20-year-rule/

A confidential letter from 10 Downing Street dated 30 April 1993 regarding British Rail Franchising. The letter is addressed Dear Paul from the Private Secretary. It details a meeting between the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State to discuss rail privatisation progress. Key points include the completion of the Committee Stage of the Rail Privatisation Bill without government defeat, plans for thirty-four total franchises, and the appointment of Bob Horton as Chairman of Railtrack. The document features official letterhead, various handwritten annotations in blue and red ink, and a Cabinet Office filing stamp dated 4 May 1993. The word CONFIDENTIAL is printed at the top and bottom.
A typed briefing document titled RAILWAYS BILL is split into two columns under the heading General. The left column lists questions and the right provides official responses. Questions ask if the Bill creates new bureaucracy, applies to all railways, or allows the privatisation of London Underground. Responses explain that most new bodies like Railtrack and the Franchising Director replace existing ones, and that London Underground will be exempt. It notes the Bill is expected to receive Royal Assent in the autumn and clarifies that funding includes up to five million pounds for a Regulator and ten million pounds for a Franchising Director, with a focus on taxpayer value for money.
A typewritten document titled Key Facts on other countries’ rail privatisation plans summarises the rail situations in four countries. In Argentina, annual losses of £400 million are recorded, with plans for long-term private sector concessions while the state retains track ownership. France faces high subsidy costs, largely to service a £14 billion debt, and has no immediate plans to privatise. Germany anticipates a £5.5 billion loss in 1992 and intends to restructure its rail system into separate sectors ahead of privatisation in the next century. Japan restructured its railways in 1987, dividing the national network into seven publicly owned companies, with plans to float shares when market conditions improve.

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@ChrisMayLA6@zirk.us avatar ChrisMayLA6 , to random

In a desperate attempt to keep voters in Northern England on board (as it were), Labour are once again promising that the much delayed, but frequently promised, Northern Powerhouse rail scheme of enhanced links from east to west in the region will be finalised & initiated in the new year.

We've been here before, but as always the Treasury will be worried about the costs of any transport initiative not based on London commuting.... I'm not holding my breath!


h/t FT

@TicklishHoneyBee@twoot.site avatar TicklishHoneyBee , to random

Kyneton station is such a beautiful old railway station. Tracks a bit wider than needed though (5’3” gauge).

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@ChrisMayLA6@zirk.us avatar ChrisMayLA6 , to random

Tomorrow, rail passengers will be enduring or celebrating the new rail timetable; a once in a decade major shift in timetables intended to increase capacity & efficiency.... everyone will be hoping it goes better than the disastrous May 2018 renewal.

The Q. will be whether the Dept. of Transport & the operators are on the same page, or whether any lack of communication has left the railways under-prepared?...

guess we'll find out next week!

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/dec/12/britain-new-rail-timetable-goes-live-sunday

@SPF@hear-me.social avatar SPF , to random

Unexpected tourism ads of the early 20th century:

Ketchum, Idaho promotes its "progressive" image, with a sweaty shirtless man on skis

and visit Chicago – for the beaches, naturally

Chicago: The vacation city Illinois Central, the road of travel luxury

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@ChrisMayLA6@zirk.us avatar ChrisMayLA6 , to random

While on one level this story of a AI-generated picture of a bridge collapse (after the earthquake centred near Morecambe Bay on Wednesday night) leading to train cancelations seems relatively minor, its an example of the sort of disruption that the use of AI is already generating.... we may soon find that having no real trust in any images will cause all sorts of social problems (which is not to say that disruption is not already evident).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwygqqll9k2o

@ChrisMayLA6@zirk.us avatar ChrisMayLA6 , to random

The problem of virtue signalling on disability is the disabled are no longer going to quietly sit there and be used...

Avanti Trains have been called out on their misleading disability-focussed advertising... and rightly so!

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/nov/15/avanti-accused-of-virtue-signalling-without-virtue-over-wheelchair-user-art

ChrisMayLA6 OP ,
@ChrisMayLA6@zirk.us avatar

@tschenkel

Yes, classic bit of nonsense... hardly touching the story while pretending to be engaged

tschenkel ,
@tschenkel@mathstodon.xyz avatar

@ChrisMayLA6

"... We are proud to be a company that highlights the importance of inclusivity, and this artwork reflects that."

... even if our actions and the design of our trains don't ...

@h4ckernews@mastodon.social avatar h4ckernews Bot , to random
Captain_Jack_Sparrow ,
@Captain_Jack_Sparrow@mastodon.world avatar

@h4ckernews

the water system privatisation was even worse

@Vibracobra23@vivaldi.net avatar Vibracobra23 , to random

Baureihe 01 Einheitsschnellzuglokomotive - Redactor AK

https://www.ebid.net/uk/for-sale/baureihe-01-einheitsschnellzuglokomotive-redactor-ak-231334543.htm

ALT
@h4ckernews@mastodon.social avatar h4ckernews Bot , to random
@h4ckernews@mastodon.social avatar h4ckernews Bot , to random
@ChrisMayLA6@zirk.us avatar ChrisMayLA6 , to random

So once again infrastructure investment in rail in the North of England is being delayed.... not that any of us in the North of England are surprised.

Gaslighting the North on railways is just a habit that's too hard to break for our political class....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckge94030g7o

Fragarach ,
@Fragarach@vivaldi.net avatar

@ChrisMayLA6
Perhaps because the Conservatives attempt to create or continue a "Northern Poorhouse" has always been misspelt? 😏

paulb3017 ,
@paulb3017@mastodon.scot avatar

@ChrisMayLA6
"But the architect of the cancellation of HS2 Phase 2, Andrew Gilligan recently wrote a report for the centre right think tank Policy Exchange, calling for Northern Powerhouse Rail to be scrapped.

The report was backed by Reform, whose deputy leader Richard Tice warned companies "not to bother" bidding for contracts."

Boris Johnson's pal Gilligan hates the north, eh? Surprised at Reform sticking the knife in though. Don't they need the turkeys from the area to vote Christmas?