Thomas Ableman
@freewheeling.info
🚇 Was Strategy & Innovation Director Transport for London
🖊️ Freewheeling Blog / Podcast www.freewheeling.info/blog
SUBSTACK: Freewheeling Bitesize: https://freewheelingbitesize.substack.com/ & History of Europe in 75 Railway Journeys http://bit.ly/3EQNOPA
🖊️ Freewheeling Blog / Podcast www.freewheeling.info/blog
SUBSTACK: Freewheeling Bitesize: https://freewheelingbitesize.substack.com/ & History of Europe in 75 Railway Journeys http://bit.ly/3EQNOPA
Pinned
Thomas Ableman
@freewheeling.info
· May 4
Welcome to A HISTORY OF EUROPE IN 75 RAILWAY JOURNEYS
Riding the rails through 1,000 years of European history
open.substack.com
My happy place is the compartment of a European train, with a cup of coffee in one hand and a history book in the other.
Hence a Substack exploring European history based on my travels.
Each month the story of a different period through the prism of a ride.
open.substack.com/pub/historyo...
Hence a Substack exploring European history based on my travels.
Each month the story of a different period through the prism of a ride.
open.substack.com/pub/historyo...
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
My happy place is the compartment of a European train, with a cup of coffee in one hand and a history book in the other.
Hence a Substack exploring European history based on my travels.
Each month the story of a different period through the prism of a ride.
open.substack.com/pub/historyo...
Hence a Substack exploring European history based on my travels.
Each month the story of a different period through the prism of a ride.
open.substack.com/pub/historyo...
Welcome to A HISTORY OF EUROPE IN 75 RAILWAY JOURNEYS
Riding the rails through 1,000 years of European history
open.substack.com
May 4, 2025 at 2:50 PM
My happy place is the compartment of a European train, with a cup of coffee in one hand and a history book in the other.
Hence a Substack exploring European history based on my travels.
Each month the story of a different period through the prism of a ride.
open.substack.com/pub/historyo...
Hence a Substack exploring European history based on my travels.
Each month the story of a different period through the prism of a ride.
open.substack.com/pub/historyo...
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
The slavish devotion to motoring is one of the most frustrating things about UK public policy over the past decades
November 25, 2025 at 6:20 PM
The slavish devotion to motoring is one of the most frustrating things about UK public policy over the past decades
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
beginning to believe I would actually vote for a dead pigeon on a stick if it just promised to restore the fuel duty escalator
November 25, 2025 at 4:40 PM
beginning to believe I would actually vote for a dead pigeon on a stick if it just promised to restore the fuel duty escalator
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
On Bregman, I was there in the audience and I can’t see what the BBC have gained by removing this line except more bad publicity. I will say that no such edits or censorship occurred when I gave the Reith Lectures and free-speech defenders might want think about whether this is the world they want.
November 25, 2025 at 12:11 PM
On Bregman, I was there in the audience and I can’t see what the BBC have gained by removing this line except more bad publicity. I will say that no such edits or censorship occurred when I gave the Reith Lectures and free-speech defenders might want think about whether this is the world they want.
Please share this. The BBC must NOT be censored by Donald Trump!
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Please share this. The BBC must NOT be censored by Donald Trump!
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
The Government has announced rail fares will be frozen. Good!
But that doesn't mean free public transport would be a good idea.
Here's why.
www.freewheeling.info/blog/why-fre...
But that doesn't mean free public transport would be a good idea.
Here's why.
www.freewheeling.info/blog/why-fre...
Why Free Public Transport is a Bad Idea — Freewheeling
Free public transport must be a great idea, right? It’ll get people out of their cars and helps low income families with the cost of living. I hate to be a party pooper, but it’s a thoroughly bad id...
www.freewheeling.info
November 23, 2025 at 7:32 PM
The Government has announced rail fares will be frozen. Good!
But that doesn't mean free public transport would be a good idea.
Here's why.
www.freewheeling.info/blog/why-fre...
But that doesn't mean free public transport would be a good idea.
Here's why.
www.freewheeling.info/blog/why-fre...
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
If you’re a journalist who’s still on Twitter, from now on in your writing you have to replace “the American people want” with “troll bots in Eastern Europe demand”
Being there makes your judgment suspect. I don’t care how savvy you think you are, you’re marinating in a disinformation campaign.
Being there makes your judgment suspect. I don’t care how savvy you think you are, you’re marinating in a disinformation campaign.
November 23, 2025 at 4:27 PM
If you’re a journalist who’s still on Twitter, from now on in your writing you have to replace “the American people want” with “troll bots in Eastern Europe demand”
Being there makes your judgment suspect. I don’t care how savvy you think you are, you’re marinating in a disinformation campaign.
Being there makes your judgment suspect. I don’t care how savvy you think you are, you’re marinating in a disinformation campaign.
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
His article was actually about how we shouldn’t forgive Hunt, and why the British media has moved on so quickly from asking why a Tory government t was designing economic policies that bordered on negligent.
November 23, 2025 at 12:43 PM
His article was actually about how we shouldn’t forgive Hunt, and why the British media has moved on so quickly from asking why a Tory government t was designing economic policies that bordered on negligent.
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
Semi-relatedly, it's not unconnected that the public find the media condescending and elitist when some of the outlets that are most supposed to be explaining this to them treat basic details as "nerd stuff" they'd, by implication, be too thick to understand.
November 23, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Semi-relatedly, it's not unconnected that the public find the media condescending and elitist when some of the outlets that are most supposed to be explaining this to them treat basic details as "nerd stuff" they'd, by implication, be too thick to understand.
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
I've realised what "See it, say it, sorted" is advertising: driving
I'm at a station and there's a constant barrage of announcements about danger. *See it say it... Transport Police... Mind the gap... For your own safety..." You know what doesn't constantly tell me I'm in danger? My car
I'm at a station and there's a constant barrage of announcements about danger. *See it say it... Transport Police... Mind the gap... For your own safety..." You know what doesn't constantly tell me I'm in danger? My car
"See it, say it, sorted" is annoying because it's obviously a marketing slogan. I'm just not sure what they're selling. Fear of public spaces?
November 22, 2025 at 4:45 PM
I've realised what "See it, say it, sorted" is advertising: driving
I'm at a station and there's a constant barrage of announcements about danger. *See it say it... Transport Police... Mind the gap... For your own safety..." You know what doesn't constantly tell me I'm in danger? My car
I'm at a station and there's a constant barrage of announcements about danger. *See it say it... Transport Police... Mind the gap... For your own safety..." You know what doesn't constantly tell me I'm in danger? My car
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
This does feel like a major crossing of the Rubicon – the world's best-funded and in many ways most powerful public health agency is now actively pushing disinformation.
I know there's a *lot* going on to care about at the moment, but this one really is significant, and matters well beyond the US.
I know there's a *lot* going on to care about at the moment, but this one really is significant, and matters well beyond the US.
The CDC website now disseminates disinformation about vaccines, claiming erroneously that infant vaccines might cause autism, when we know conclusively that they do not. It is difficult to overstate just how dangerous this is. www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safe...
November 20, 2025 at 2:03 PM
This does feel like a major crossing of the Rubicon – the world's best-funded and in many ways most powerful public health agency is now actively pushing disinformation.
I know there's a *lot* going on to care about at the moment, but this one really is significant, and matters well beyond the US.
I know there's a *lot* going on to care about at the moment, but this one really is significant, and matters well beyond the US.
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
You just couldn't plan properly, because that exposes that taxes would have to go way up
Ailbhe Rea tipped me over into actually hating Reeves with the anecdote that when she was warned the draft manifesto was boxing in a future Labour Government she responded; "that'd be a nice problem to have"
Ailbhe Rea tipped me over into actually hating Reeves with the anecdote that when she was warned the draft manifesto was boxing in a future Labour Government she responded; "that'd be a nice problem to have"
November 19, 2025 at 9:29 AM
You just couldn't plan properly, because that exposes that taxes would have to go way up
Ailbhe Rea tipped me over into actually hating Reeves with the anecdote that when she was warned the draft manifesto was boxing in a future Labour Government she responded; "that'd be a nice problem to have"
Ailbhe Rea tipped me over into actually hating Reeves with the anecdote that when she was warned the draft manifesto was boxing in a future Labour Government she responded; "that'd be a nice problem to have"
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
There is no cure for their poison except to challenge its assumptions. Nothing is gained by pretending to agree with it, or mollifying it.
November 18, 2025 at 2:55 PM
There is no cure for their poison except to challenge its assumptions. Nothing is gained by pretending to agree with it, or mollifying it.
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
A major problem for a government with an essentially performative policy approach is that it encourages / incentivises all other parties to so the same thing - what’s the point in being substantive if the actual government (whose competitive advantage should be governing) can’t be bothered…?
November 18, 2025 at 7:47 AM
A major problem for a government with an essentially performative policy approach is that it encourages / incentivises all other parties to so the same thing - what’s the point in being substantive if the actual government (whose competitive advantage should be governing) can’t be bothered…?
Tory voters want Tory governments to improve the economy while Labour voters want Labour governments to improve public services.
The Tories were annihilated by their own side for failing to do what they're meant to do. Labour risk the same fate.
Labour will be judged on schools and hospitals.
The Tories were annihilated by their own side for failing to do what they're meant to do. Labour risk the same fate.
Labour will be judged on schools and hospitals.
November 17, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Tory voters want Tory governments to improve the economy while Labour voters want Labour governments to improve public services.
The Tories were annihilated by their own side for failing to do what they're meant to do. Labour risk the same fate.
Labour will be judged on schools and hospitals.
The Tories were annihilated by their own side for failing to do what they're meant to do. Labour risk the same fate.
Labour will be judged on schools and hospitals.
How should transport authorities be set up to achieve maximum integrated transport?
Blog post two of two.
www.freewheeling.info/blog/what-do...
Blog post two of two.
www.freewheeling.info/blog/what-do...
What Does “Integration” Mean - Part Two — Freewheeling
Integrated transport is for customers, but do you need an integrated transport authority to deliver integrated transport? Today’s blog post is about what integrated transport means at an organisation...
www.freewheeling.info
November 17, 2025 at 3:37 PM
How should transport authorities be set up to achieve maximum integrated transport?
Blog post two of two.
www.freewheeling.info/blog/what-do...
Blog post two of two.
www.freewheeling.info/blog/what-do...
Because they made immigration and low taxes core to their campaign, they seem to believe that Labour voters care most about taxes and immigration.
Labour voters voted Labour because they wanted the kinds of things they expect to get from a Labour government.
That is better public services.
Labour voters voted Labour because they wanted the kinds of things they expect to get from a Labour government.
That is better public services.
November 16, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Because they made immigration and low taxes core to their campaign, they seem to believe that Labour voters care most about taxes and immigration.
Labour voters voted Labour because they wanted the kinds of things they expect to get from a Labour government.
That is better public services.
Labour voters voted Labour because they wanted the kinds of things they expect to get from a Labour government.
That is better public services.
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
Late to this, but if the Sunday Times is correct that Morgan McSweeney spent one and a half hours last week with Lord Glasman then he isn't fit to fill any senior position in government.
November 16, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Late to this, but if the Sunday Times is correct that Morgan McSweeney spent one and a half hours last week with Lord Glasman then he isn't fit to fill any senior position in government.
One of my favourite podcast chats to date so far, with @tomforth.co.uk on the north-south divide.
Turns out reason for the North’s poor productivity isn’t a centralised political culture causing low transport, investment, it’s because they’re drunks...
www.freewheeling.info/the-freewhee...
Turns out reason for the North’s poor productivity isn’t a centralised political culture causing low transport, investment, it’s because they’re drunks...
www.freewheeling.info/the-freewhee...
www.freewheeling.info
November 13, 2025 at 8:44 PM
One of my favourite podcast chats to date so far, with @tomforth.co.uk on the north-south divide.
Turns out reason for the North’s poor productivity isn’t a centralised political culture causing low transport, investment, it’s because they’re drunks...
www.freewheeling.info/the-freewhee...
Turns out reason for the North’s poor productivity isn’t a centralised political culture causing low transport, investment, it’s because they’re drunks...
www.freewheeling.info/the-freewhee...
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
I did a podcast episode seemingly. About the North South divide and its interaction with transport. With @freewheeling.info. So what better way for me to listen to it for the first time than on a slow train back to Leeds from Rotherham. Which is what I'll do right now.
November 13, 2025 at 4:26 PM
I did a podcast episode seemingly. About the North South divide and its interaction with transport. With @freewheeling.info. So what better way for me to listen to it for the first time than on a slow train back to Leeds from Rotherham. Which is what I'll do right now.
One of the strange things about the No10 briefing story is that when we want to know who’s done something, we look to journalists to dig and find the answer.
But in this case, the journalists know exactly who did the briefing, because they were briefed. So who is digging to find the answer?
But in this case, the journalists know exactly who did the briefing, because they were briefed. So who is digging to find the answer?
November 13, 2025 at 8:40 PM
One of the strange things about the No10 briefing story is that when we want to know who’s done something, we look to journalists to dig and find the answer.
But in this case, the journalists know exactly who did the briefing, because they were briefed. So who is digging to find the answer?
But in this case, the journalists know exactly who did the briefing, because they were briefed. So who is digging to find the answer?
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
A little excerpt from last week's @freewheeling.info podcast - full link here: www.freewheeling.info/the-freewhee...
November 13, 2025 at 11:31 AM
A little excerpt from last week's @freewheeling.info podcast - full link here: www.freewheeling.info/the-freewhee...
Why does the North underperform the South?
It's because northerners are drunks.
Or stupid.
Or stupid drunks.
Believe it or not, these are actual theories.
In academic papers.
That Tom Forth has read.
But they're wrong.
It's transport & centralisation.
www.freewheeling.info/the-freewhee...
It's because northerners are drunks.
Or stupid.
Or stupid drunks.
Believe it or not, these are actual theories.
In academic papers.
That Tom Forth has read.
But they're wrong.
It's transport & centralisation.
www.freewheeling.info/the-freewhee...
The North-South Divide with Tom Forth — Freewheeling
Data City Founder Tom Forth has been told some extraordinary reasons why the North underperforms the South. Including that it’s down to Northerners being stupid. Or drunk. He’s even read academic...
www.freewheeling.info
November 13, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Why does the North underperform the South?
It's because northerners are drunks.
Or stupid.
Or stupid drunks.
Believe it or not, these are actual theories.
In academic papers.
That Tom Forth has read.
But they're wrong.
It's transport & centralisation.
www.freewheeling.info/the-freewhee...
It's because northerners are drunks.
Or stupid.
Or stupid drunks.
Believe it or not, these are actual theories.
In academic papers.
That Tom Forth has read.
But they're wrong.
It's transport & centralisation.
www.freewheeling.info/the-freewhee...
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
It’s both that less than 18 months in Downing Street are effectively saying they have lost confidence of colleagues, while briefing against a cabinet minister responsible for the area their voters really care about (which just looks to public like more of last years of Tories)
November 12, 2025 at 7:35 AM
It’s both that less than 18 months in Downing Street are effectively saying they have lost confidence of colleagues, while briefing against a cabinet minister responsible for the area their voters really care about (which just looks to public like more of last years of Tories)