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Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 3h

And George Osborne did Modern History.

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Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 1d

Do they all line up with little chimneys and look like a little fireplace?

Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 1d

We haven't had a Cambridge man (or woman) since Stanley Baldwin.

Touch and go whether Robert Jenrick or Andy Burnham is more likely to break that run.

Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 2d

Giles/George/Both

Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 2d

Beautiful data from @benansell.bsky.social - (vertical axis is cultural, horizontal is economic, grey blobs are don't knows)

Labour would clearly be more comfortable in culturally liberal territory: probably better to govern authentically and give the don't knows at least one decent option.

Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 2d

When CrossCountry and West Coast had joint management, the CrossCountry ops people would refer to the route to Euston as 'the branch line'.

So bound up in the complexities of running trains to all points of the compass, so disdainful of what actually paid their salaries...

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Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 3d

You can cycle it at the moment, just not legally...

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Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 3d

I don't think we get much say in the matter.

The question is more about where Labour chooses to fight - in the suburbs or the ex-coalfields.

Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 3d

The Wolf of Badenoch is the loco that made short work of a mercifully empty Pacer that went through a red light onto the main line at Winsford ;)

Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 4d

Quinces are sort of pentagonal

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Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 4d

I think we got 3 quinces last year; this year more like three hundred

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Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 4d

This was looked at quite thoroughly for the Midland Mainline electrification works. Weekdays are still busy, it's just more evenly spread through the week. No particular saving from longer blocks. A lot less freight at weekends, so locos available for works trains. Similar for construction equipment

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Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 5d

Strange how the people who invented Worcester Woman are so fixated on Rosie the Welder

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Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 5d

Eurostar conductors do not check tickets

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Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 7d

We are in the process of completing a quasi-motorway between Cambridge and Milton Keynes, and will soon start operating a rail service from Milton Keynes to Oxford. Maybe they'll run an express coach Cambridge-Milton Keynes for the transit diehards.

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Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 7d

A pitch that focuses on economics, and is apologetically positive about immigration *in cities* might work?

Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 7d

Any thoughts on how that plays out geographically? London<>Mets<>Exurbs<>FormerCoalfields

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Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 7d

There was a time when Casey Jones was the best available coffee option at major stations.

Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 7d

Milton Keynes has special roundabouts without the normal camber; much harder to turn left at speed

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Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 7d

It's because Cambridge is shallower

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Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 7d

Oxford already has a fast direct train service (and motorway) to another top3 university

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Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 8d

They already have access to congestion charging and some forms of land value capture, but they don't use them.

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Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 8d

The Secretary of State is obliged to make reasoned decisions on planning grounds. There's a certain amount of leeway in that, but not irrespective of what the Planning Inspector recommends.

Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 8d

Photo outside Revs is right, but a bit premature

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Richard Mann @transportparadise.bsky.social · 9d

The question is how this interacts with political geography.

Arguably there's lots of low PMC to go at in the met suburbs (who are probably currently don't know)

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