Jack Harman
@jackharman.bsky.social
Infrastructure finance professional wondering why Anglosphere costs are so high
The truly insane thing is that the third-busiest station in the country by passenger numbers does allow you to break out the EL. Because it's Tottenham Court Road and that's the only mainline service there.
July 11, 2025 at 1:37 PM
The truly insane thing is that the third-busiest station in the country by passenger numbers does allow you to break out the EL. Because it's Tottenham Court Road and that's the only mainline service there.
Some good stuff in here, though I think it could be more radical. One insane thing about UK government funded projects which I didn't realise until recently is that their budgets are annual! An incredibly bad idea.
July 5, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Some good stuff in here, though I think it could be more radical. One insane thing about UK government funded projects which I didn't realise until recently is that their budgets are annual! An incredibly bad idea.
I suspect the highlighted section is a huge part of this
July 5, 2025 at 7:52 PM
I suspect the highlighted section is a huge part of this
Wow, you were not kidding. Definitely thought that was hyperbole
July 4, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Wow, you were not kidding. Definitely thought that was hyperbole
Transport Infrastructure Ireland seems to be putting together a plan to massively expand Dublin's Luas tram lines. Will be interesting to see what they come up with. @ryukyu-hsr.bsky.social @princetonyimby.bsky.social may be interested
irishcycle.com/wp-content/u...
irishcycle.com/wp-content/u...
July 4, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Transport Infrastructure Ireland seems to be putting together a plan to massively expand Dublin's Luas tram lines. Will be interesting to see what they come up with. @ryukyu-hsr.bsky.social @princetonyimby.bsky.social may be interested
irishcycle.com/wp-content/u...
irishcycle.com/wp-content/u...
Oh actually looks like I was wrong about travellers - they are white. But so are Roma, which is odd!
July 4, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Oh actually looks like I was wrong about travellers - they are white. But so are Roma, which is odd!
The UK has some of the safest roads in the world!
July 3, 2025 at 4:34 PM
The UK has some of the safest roads in the world!
Still at around 80% of pre-COVID passengers, and they recently asked for an extension of their operating licence. No idea how it makes sense, but there you go
July 2, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Still at around 80% of pre-COVID passengers, and they recently asked for an extension of their operating licence. No idea how it makes sense, but there you go
Apparently my hypothesis that the 701 issues were due to system integration were wrong! Bombardier just really fucked up manufacturing and didn't pay suppliers while they were going out of business
July 1, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Apparently my hypothesis that the 701 issues were due to system integration were wrong! Bombardier just really fucked up manufacturing and didn't pay suppliers while they were going out of business
Found it - looks a bit different in that the peak is shifts from 18-25 to 25-35, but still strikingly different
July 1, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Found it - looks a bit different in that the peak is shifts from 18-25 to 25-35, but still strikingly different
Only as of last year, but yeah. And to be fair, the increase in the number of student dependents was insane, going from ~10k pre-COVID/Brexit to 150k in 2023
www.gov.uk/government/s...
www.gov.uk/government/s...
June 30, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Only as of last year, but yeah. And to be fair, the increase in the number of student dependents was insane, going from ~10k pre-COVID/Brexit to 150k in 2023
www.gov.uk/government/s...
www.gov.uk/government/s...
Caixin, citing Ministry of Transport data, says it's 74% road. I have no idea how to adjudicate
asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Ca...
asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Ca...
June 29, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Caixin, citing Ministry of Transport data, says it's 74% road. I have no idea how to adjudicate
asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Ca...
asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Ca...
Housing stock 2010 2024 Net growth % Growth
London 3,336,343 3,822,330 485,987 15%
NYC 3,414,235 3,721,599 307,364 9%
www.osc.ny.gov/files/report...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/682deb...
London 3,336,343 3,822,330 485,987 15%
NYC 3,414,235 3,721,599 307,364 9%
www.osc.ny.gov/files/report...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/682deb...
June 26, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Housing stock 2010 2024 Net growth % Growth
London 3,336,343 3,822,330 485,987 15%
NYC 3,414,235 3,721,599 307,364 9%
www.osc.ny.gov/files/report...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/682deb...
London 3,336,343 3,822,330 485,987 15%
NYC 3,414,235 3,721,599 307,364 9%
www.osc.ny.gov/files/report...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/682deb...
Pretty challenging to get electrification costs under £1m/km if you're spending £2m/km just on geotechnical surveys
www.railengineer.co.uk/geotechnic-m...
www.railengineer.co.uk/geotechnic-m...
June 24, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Pretty challenging to get electrification costs under £1m/km if you're spending £2m/km just on geotechnical surveys
www.railengineer.co.uk/geotechnic-m...
www.railengineer.co.uk/geotechnic-m...
Found an image that I think is either a photo or CGI of the cross-section of a contact wire
www.academia.edu/11936009/Ove...
www.academia.edu/11936009/Ove...
June 24, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Found an image that I think is either a photo or CGI of the cross-section of a contact wire
www.academia.edu/11936009/Ove...
www.academia.edu/11936009/Ove...
One thing I had never considered is how much passenger weight affects the floor level of a train, and how that impacts attempts to get level boarding. Apparently on the Underground it's up to 77mm (3 inches) when comparing an empty train to a crush loaded one.
June 24, 2025 at 1:23 AM
One thing I had never considered is how much passenger weight affects the floor level of a train, and how that impacts attempts to get level boarding. Apparently on the Underground it's up to 77mm (3 inches) when comparing an empty train to a crush loaded one.
I love these small innovations - composite electrification cantilevers which are lighter than traditional steel ones and don't require an insulator (because they're non-conductive. Very surprising they don't already exist, and I really wonder what the barriers are
www.gcre.wales/wp-content/u...
www.gcre.wales/wp-content/u...
June 24, 2025 at 12:39 AM
I love these small innovations - composite electrification cantilevers which are lighter than traditional steel ones and don't require an insulator (because they're non-conductive. Very surprising they don't already exist, and I really wonder what the barriers are
www.gcre.wales/wp-content/u...
www.gcre.wales/wp-content/u...
And of course, ChatGPT fumbles this. Gemini gave me three different answers the three times I asked (one "yes", one "no", one "his position has evolved")
June 18, 2025 at 2:45 AM
And of course, ChatGPT fumbles this. Gemini gave me three different answers the three times I asked (one "yes", one "no", one "his position has evolved")
You can really see why this project is so expensive: massive earthworks at HS2 construction sites in the middle of the countryside. I'd be curious if anyone has comparable images of TGV/AVE construction
June 17, 2025 at 4:10 PM
You can really see why this project is so expensive: massive earthworks at HS2 construction sites in the middle of the countryside. I'd be curious if anyone has comparable images of TGV/AVE construction
HS2 is starting to show up on Google maps as a long line between Birmingham (top of this picture) and Aylesbury (bottom). A few sites are visible at a closer zoom level
June 17, 2025 at 4:08 PM
HS2 is starting to show up on Google maps as a long line between Birmingham (top of this picture) and Aylesbury (bottom). A few sites are visible at a closer zoom level
Nothing too exciting, just the question of whether, when you apply an overtime rate, you multiply just the worker's base wage by 1.5 (and leave benefits the same), or whether you multiply the wage and benefits by 1.5.
Fortunately the actual official document is very clear about this!
Fortunately the actual official document is very clear about this!
June 13, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Nothing too exciting, just the question of whether, when you apply an overtime rate, you multiply just the worker's base wage by 1.5 (and leave benefits the same), or whether you multiply the wage and benefits by 1.5.
Fortunately the actual official document is very clear about this!
Fortunately the actual official document is very clear about this!
Well, here we go
www.bbc.com/news/live/c9...
www.bbc.com/news/live/c9...
June 13, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Well, here we go
www.bbc.com/news/live/c9...
www.bbc.com/news/live/c9...
lol these guys were so mad when we dared to suggest it might cost more than $10bn
June 10, 2025 at 12:59 AM
lol these guys were so mad when we dared to suggest it might cost more than $10bn