Oliver Blanthorn
@bovine3dom.bsky.social
the French ones I see use characters for each day of the week because they're horrifically complex
December 2, 2025 at 11:49 AM
the French ones I see use characters for each day of the week because they're horrifically complex
"improves reliability on days when fewer people use trains" is exactly the kind of statistical gaming i am worried about GBR doing :)
the south east is one of the few bits of the UK with a sensible timetable so it would be a shame to lose that for some SNCF-style penny pinching (centime clutching?)
the south east is one of the few bits of the UK with a sensible timetable so it would be a shame to lose that for some SNCF-style penny pinching (centime clutching?)
December 2, 2025 at 10:56 AM
"improves reliability on days when fewer people use trains" is exactly the kind of statistical gaming i am worried about GBR doing :)
the south east is one of the few bits of the UK with a sensible timetable so it would be a shame to lose that for some SNCF-style penny pinching (centime clutching?)
the south east is one of the few bits of the UK with a sensible timetable so it would be a shame to lose that for some SNCF-style penny pinching (centime clutching?)
it's also a ticket that no-one buys any more. the public spends 30% less on train tickets than they did before the pandemic, mostly by shifting to off-peak.
but really important that fares are frozen so they can spend 4% less again in real terms next year. great "guiding mind" systems thinking guys
but really important that fares are frozen so they can spend 4% less again in real terms next year. great "guiding mind" systems thinking guys
November 23, 2025 at 6:11 PM
it's also a ticket that no-one buys any more. the public spends 30% less on train tickets than they did before the pandemic, mostly by shifting to off-peak.
but really important that fares are frozen so they can spend 4% less again in real terms next year. great "guiding mind" systems thinking guys
but really important that fares are frozen so they can spend 4% less again in real terms next year. great "guiding mind" systems thinking guys
at the best of times it is pretty damn great in my experience
it has its lows too, sure.
it has its lows too, sure.
November 13, 2025 at 2:59 PM
at the best of times it is pretty damn great in my experience
it has its lows too, sure.
it has its lows too, sure.
My favourite theory is that the e320 drivers have secret headgear that they put on as they enter the tunnel
November 4, 2025 at 6:46 PM
My favourite theory is that the e320 drivers have secret headgear that they put on as they enter the tunnel
SNCF is the most expensive company in the EU for running PSO services by a very, very large margin so it doesn't surprise me.
September 30, 2025 at 7:31 PM
SNCF is the most expensive company in the EU for running PSO services by a very, very large margin so it doesn't surprise me.
they just invented this masterpiece for Nice Ville
TGV ticket gates at an entrance at the southwest for boarding in the centre of the station
long distance TER (Transdev) ticket gates in the centre of the station for boarding at a platform far in the southwest of the station
TGV ticket gates at an entrance at the southwest for boarding in the centre of the station
long distance TER (Transdev) ticket gates in the centre of the station for boarding at a platform far in the southwest of the station
September 12, 2025 at 3:09 PM
they just invented this masterpiece for Nice Ville
TGV ticket gates at an entrance at the southwest for boarding in the centre of the station
long distance TER (Transdev) ticket gates in the centre of the station for boarding at a platform far in the southwest of the station
TGV ticket gates at an entrance at the southwest for boarding in the centre of the station
long distance TER (Transdev) ticket gates in the centre of the station for boarding at a platform far in the southwest of the station
Great article!
> to secure paths on French high speed lines, 300km/h is a must
I know it's a tiny segment but do you know how the Z-TER managed to wangle access at 200km/h between Laval and Sablé? Political pressure?
I reckon running 250km/h to Brussels via Lille would be ok capacity wise
> to secure paths on French high speed lines, 300km/h is a must
I know it's a tiny segment but do you know how the Z-TER managed to wangle access at 200km/h between Laval and Sablé? Political pressure?
I reckon running 250km/h to Brussels via Lille would be ok capacity wise
August 14, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Great article!
> to secure paths on French high speed lines, 300km/h is a must
I know it's a tiny segment but do you know how the Z-TER managed to wangle access at 200km/h between Laval and Sablé? Political pressure?
I reckon running 250km/h to Brussels via Lille would be ok capacity wise
> to secure paths on French high speed lines, 300km/h is a must
I know it's a tiny segment but do you know how the Z-TER managed to wangle access at 200km/h between Laval and Sablé? Political pressure?
I reckon running 250km/h to Brussels via Lille would be ok capacity wise
Looking forward to the leaked internal SNCF presentation in two years' time on how they need to up their game on routes that Trenitalia is running on because of interrail revenue
They seem to have pushed the date back for them joining the network from the end of summer to the end of the year :(
They seem to have pushed the date back for them joining the network from the end of summer to the end of the year :(
August 6, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Looking forward to the leaked internal SNCF presentation in two years' time on how they need to up their game on routes that Trenitalia is running on because of interrail revenue
They seem to have pushed the date back for them joining the network from the end of summer to the end of the year :(
They seem to have pushed the date back for them joining the network from the end of summer to the end of the year :(
find this line a bit depressing really. back in 1979 it was an hour faster between Ventimiglia and Cuneo than it is today. In 1936 you could get between Turin and Nice in 4.5 hours including borders. Takes over six today w/ three changes
www.stagniweb.it/altro/disegn...
magnificent but neglected
www.stagniweb.it/altro/disegn...
magnificent but neglected
July 15, 2025 at 3:07 PM
find this line a bit depressing really. back in 1979 it was an hour faster between Ventimiglia and Cuneo than it is today. In 1936 you could get between Turin and Nice in 4.5 hours including borders. Takes over six today w/ three changes
www.stagniweb.it/altro/disegn...
magnificent but neglected
www.stagniweb.it/altro/disegn...
magnificent but neglected
My contribution to the Flitwick debate is that they should triple the size of Harlington while they're there, excellent public transport links. There's already some construction going on but it doesn't seem dense enough to truly take advantage of the railway
www.telegraph.co.uk/money/proper...
www.telegraph.co.uk/money/proper...
July 9, 2025 at 10:14 AM
My contribution to the Flitwick debate is that they should triple the size of Harlington while they're there, excellent public transport links. There's already some construction going on but it doesn't seem dense enough to truly take advantage of the railway
www.telegraph.co.uk/money/proper...
www.telegraph.co.uk/money/proper...
> 1961 : Le Journal officiel confirme l'usage officiel en France de l'échelle longue
Apparently they offically picked long scale 20 years before your book was written
Apparently they offically picked long scale 20 years before your book was written
July 7, 2025 at 12:14 PM
> 1961 : Le Journal officiel confirme l'usage officiel en France de l'échelle longue
Apparently they offically picked long scale 20 years before your book was written
Apparently they offically picked long scale 20 years before your book was written
we have these "next train to" boards at quite a few big railway stations FWIW, they've been around for years
definitely at Manchester Piccadilly and London Waterloo off the top of my head. and yeah, they're great.
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co...
definitely at Manchester Piccadilly and London Waterloo off the top of my head. and yeah, they're great.
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co...
July 2, 2025 at 9:29 PM
we have these "next train to" boards at quite a few big railway stations FWIW, they've been around for years
definitely at Manchester Piccadilly and London Waterloo off the top of my head. and yeah, they're great.
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co...
definitely at Manchester Piccadilly and London Waterloo off the top of my head. and yeah, they're great.
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co...
rue de la buffa is lovely but the city seems to have lost the political will to make any more like that :(
niceavelo.org/observatoire... you can see how we've flatlined since 2022
also, fwiw, the green design is terrible compared to the red one. zigzags, poor visibility, poor separation from peds
niceavelo.org/observatoire... you can see how we've flatlined since 2022
also, fwiw, the green design is terrible compared to the red one. zigzags, poor visibility, poor separation from peds
June 20, 2025 at 7:15 PM
rue de la buffa is lovely but the city seems to have lost the political will to make any more like that :(
niceavelo.org/observatoire... you can see how we've flatlined since 2022
also, fwiw, the green design is terrible compared to the red one. zigzags, poor visibility, poor separation from peds
niceavelo.org/observatoire... you can see how we've flatlined since 2022
also, fwiw, the green design is terrible compared to the red one. zigzags, poor visibility, poor separation from peds
maybe it takes a while for the bridge to work in both directions. i've tried to reply at least
May 12, 2025 at 12:59 PM
maybe it takes a while for the bridge to work in both directions. i've tried to reply at least
i've started experimenting with taking into account transport quality as well as frequency and you can see the tramways much more clearly
apparently trams are good? and trains too. weird.
fwiw i think your mastodon bridge isn't working because you've set your bsky to be only visible when logged in
apparently trams are good? and trains too. weird.
fwiw i think your mastodon bridge isn't working because you've set your bsky to be only visible when logged in
May 11, 2025 at 10:24 AM
i've started experimenting with taking into account transport quality as well as frequency and you can see the tramways much more clearly
apparently trams are good? and trains too. weird.
fwiw i think your mastodon bridge isn't working because you've set your bsky to be only visible when logged in
apparently trams are good? and trains too. weird.
fwiw i think your mastodon bridge isn't working because you've set your bsky to be only visible when logged in
i had a couple of bugs i fixed (and did a join with UPRNs to exclude places where zero people live) but it doesn't seem to have changed much for Nottingham 🤔
if you spot anything glaring please let me know
no deep connections to Wales - sister went to uni at Aber, liked it, now lives in Swansea :)
if you spot anything glaring please let me know
no deep connections to Wales - sister went to uni at Aber, liked it, now lives in Swansea :)
May 9, 2025 at 12:05 PM
i had a couple of bugs i fixed (and did a join with UPRNs to exclude places where zero people live) but it doesn't seem to have changed much for Nottingham 🤔
if you spot anything glaring please let me know
no deep connections to Wales - sister went to uni at Aber, liked it, now lives in Swansea :)
if you spot anything glaring please let me know
no deep connections to Wales - sister went to uni at Aber, liked it, now lives in Swansea :)
sorry, i misremembered, it was three changes in 2:40
May 3, 2025 at 3:52 PM
sorry, i misremembered, it was three changes in 2:40
not one that i can spot. the most fun thing i found is that the number of wood burning stoves per km2 is flat no matter the population density, except for very rural and the worst urban areas
(high resolution map here if you'd like to judge your neighbours studio.foursquare.com/map/public/9... )
(high resolution map here if you'd like to judge your neighbours studio.foursquare.com/map/public/9... )
April 25, 2025 at 1:20 PM
not one that i can spot. the most fun thing i found is that the number of wood burning stoves per km2 is flat no matter the population density, except for very rural and the worst urban areas
(high resolution map here if you'd like to judge your neighbours studio.foursquare.com/map/public/9... )
(high resolution map here if you'd like to judge your neighbours studio.foursquare.com/map/public/9... )
Villefranche-sur-Mer, just outside Nice, although there are quite a few steps. Pietrarsa outside Naples is a few metres further from the beach, but I think it gets some dispensation because the added distance is taken up by a beachfront railway museum
April 1, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Villefranche-sur-Mer, just outside Nice, although there are quite a few steps. Pietrarsa outside Naples is a few metres further from the beach, but I think it gets some dispensation because the added distance is taken up by a beachfront railway museum
It feels like a positive sign to me - comparing the 2025 route map with the 2022 one, OBB added lots of new routes north-west and south of Austria and cut car trains. One route didn't work out so they cut it. Doesn't that suggest that the strategy is otherwise broadly working?
March 14, 2025 at 12:02 PM
It feels like a positive sign to me - comparing the 2025 route map with the 2022 one, OBB added lots of new routes north-west and south of Austria and cut car trains. One route didn't work out so they cut it. Doesn't that suggest that the strategy is otherwise broadly working?
Do you have any more information about the Col de Tende train? The mayor of Breil was in Nice Matin today suggesting it was only a possibility
Unless of course he's talking about a different historic train :)
Unless of course he's talking about a different historic train :)
!["... This summer, we are going to try to compensate for the [SNCF] Train of Wonders by starting a historic train leaving from Ventimiglia. We already have European funding for approximately one round trip per week ...." - the mayor of Breil sur Roya in Nice Matin, 2025-01-26](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:zcnvatgwt3iofl3o3562l6m2/bafkreidx55wgtlruzkepmuvqmkkih5ufr3nk4363jhhex4u2lb2cy4fora@jpeg)
January 26, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Do you have any more information about the Col de Tende train? The mayor of Breil was in Nice Matin today suggesting it was only a possibility
Unless of course he's talking about a different historic train :)
Unless of course he's talking about a different historic train :)
Merci de l'avoir partagé ! je viens d'ajouter une colonne pour kilomètres carrés, c'est assez intéressant de voir la densité absolu des voitures
50MB de données et pas mal de maths à faire donc peut chauffer ton portable: o.blanthorn.com/france-iris/...
50MB de données et pas mal de maths à faire donc peut chauffer ton portable: o.blanthorn.com/france-iris/...
November 28, 2024 at 1:04 PM
Merci de l'avoir partagé ! je viens d'ajouter une colonne pour kilomètres carrés, c'est assez intéressant de voir la densité absolu des voitures
50MB de données et pas mal de maths à faire donc peut chauffer ton portable: o.blanthorn.com/france-iris/...
50MB de données et pas mal de maths à faire donc peut chauffer ton portable: o.blanthorn.com/france-iris/...
added a frankly ridiculously nice dataframe library to my map of france, now you can use it to find out where you can live for free (probably as a gardener or live-in nanny).
or take the cosine of the number of houses heated by wood. i won't judge.
or take the cosine of the number of houses heated by wood. i won't judge.
November 21, 2024 at 10:38 PM
added a frankly ridiculously nice dataframe library to my map of france, now you can use it to find out where you can live for free (probably as a gardener or live-in nanny).
or take the cosine of the number of houses heated by wood. i won't judge.
or take the cosine of the number of houses heated by wood. i won't judge.