And the incentives for the states themselves are woeful. All income tax is collected directly by the centre, and distributed via formula... but the formula directly *penalizes* states for being richer. It's almost the exact opposite of China's GDP growth targets for provinces lol
November 16, 2025 at 6:32 AM
And the incentives for the states themselves are woeful. All income tax is collected directly by the centre, and distributed via formula... but the formula directly *penalizes* states for being richer. It's almost the exact opposite of China's GDP growth targets for provinces lol
I think misaligned incentives explain a lot about India in general. There's very little incentive for good urban leadership, because cities have very little autonomy (and ~0 ways to raise revenue), and are thus subservient to states.
November 16, 2025 at 6:26 AM
I think misaligned incentives explain a lot about India in general. There's very little incentive for good urban leadership, because cities have very little autonomy (and ~0 ways to raise revenue), and are thus subservient to states.
I think it makes more sense if you consider the (severely misaligned) incentives. IR provides tons of valuable service, but captures ~none of the value. Fares are basically politically frozen, and states/cities almost never chip in to cover the subsidized rates. OTOH, freight ~prints money.
November 16, 2025 at 6:12 AM
I think it makes more sense if you consider the (severely misaligned) incentives. IR provides tons of valuable service, but captures ~none of the value. Fares are basically politically frozen, and states/cities almost never chip in to cover the subsidized rates. OTOH, freight ~prints money.
I don't think this applies as cleanly to cars. Some of the lowest end options have definitely been eliminated, but the most popular cars of ~25 years ago were the Honda/Toyota sedans. They still sell them, at basically the same inflation-adjusted prices, but... people don't buy them as much.
November 9, 2025 at 4:05 PM
I don't think this applies as cleanly to cars. Some of the lowest end options have definitely been eliminated, but the most popular cars of ~25 years ago were the Honda/Toyota sedans. They still sell them, at basically the same inflation-adjusted prices, but... people don't buy them as much.
So much of this was Germany in particular fucking up though. A combination of generous PHEV incentives, and a company car culture (employers pay for *fuel* cards) is probably the worst case scenario for getting people to charge PHEVs at home.
November 8, 2025 at 11:39 PM
So much of this was Germany in particular fucking up though. A combination of generous PHEV incentives, and a company car culture (employers pay for *fuel* cards) is probably the worst case scenario for getting people to charge PHEVs at home.
The ones other responses linked to don't seem to be labeled organic, like the one in the original post. I don't particularly "believe" in organic food, but that could certainly make a difference in prices.
November 2, 2025 at 2:51 AM
The ones other responses linked to don't seem to be labeled organic, like the one in the original post. I don't particularly "believe" in organic food, but that could certainly make a difference in prices.
Yep, one locomotive plus a cab-car:
October 31, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Yep, one locomotive plus a cab-car:
You've got the OBB railjet, and the Czech version of the same. And I think some trains in Switzerland (though that may be "interreggio")
October 31, 2025 at 1:07 AM
You've got the OBB railjet, and the Czech version of the same. And I think some trains in Switzerland (though that may be "interreggio")
It's genuinely odd how moped-heavy Taiwan is for its income. I think Italy and the like switched to cars far earlier, and I wouldn't be surprised if SEA (even Vietnam) does too.
October 30, 2025 at 2:01 PM
It's genuinely odd how moped-heavy Taiwan is for its income. I think Italy and the like switched to cars far earlier, and I wouldn't be surprised if SEA (even Vietnam) does too.
Yep, and it's the same reason you actually *don't* see many people driving without license plates in the developing world. Bribing your way out of a single infraction when caught is one thing, but actively breaking the law in a high profile way is... generally a bad idea.
October 29, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Yep, and it's the same reason you actually *don't* see many people driving without license plates in the developing world. Bribing your way out of a single infraction when caught is one thing, but actively breaking the law in a high profile way is... generally a bad idea.
I find it interesting that there was a relatively recent "huh, maybe these foreigners know something we don't" moment, leading to actual professional adoption... but it started *and ended* with roundabouts.
October 27, 2025 at 3:14 AM
I find it interesting that there was a relatively recent "huh, maybe these foreigners know something we don't" moment, leading to actual professional adoption... but it started *and ended* with roundabouts.
The non-combustable construction + massive balconies probably make this safer than ~anything built under the IBC. As long as it doesn't have Grenfell cladding, it'll be very hard to die from smoke inhalation.
October 26, 2025 at 6:30 PM
The non-combustable construction + massive balconies probably make this safer than ~anything built under the IBC. As long as it doesn't have Grenfell cladding, it'll be very hard to die from smoke inhalation.
otoh: chicken wings
October 24, 2025 at 1:07 PM
otoh: chicken wings
Interestingly Mexico, despite also being deeply integrated into the American car industry, already accepts UNECE compliant cars (and has for a while). I'm rather jealous of the variety available there, from BYDs to the new Suzuki Jimny.
October 19, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Interestingly Mexico, despite also being deeply integrated into the American car industry, already accepts UNECE compliant cars (and has for a while). I'm rather jealous of the variety available there, from BYDs to the new Suzuki Jimny.
It's also the super long routes, which ups the km part of passenger-km.
October 13, 2025 at 5:36 PM
It's also the super long routes, which ups the km part of passenger-km.
Link that works: youtube.com/shorts/FEjAI...
Croisement de 2 Irisbus Crealis NEO 18 sur . réseau Astuce Rouen #astuce #teor #Rouen #bhns #crealis
YouTube video by OproRail
youtube.com
October 11, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Link that works: youtube.com/shorts/FEjAI...
Rouen's optically guidedTEOR been doing that for a couple decades now, enabling true level boarding (youtube.com/shorts/FEjAI...). It's hard to imagine that the tech or hardware would be particularly expensive, but adoption seems minimal.
youtube.com
October 11, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Rouen's optically guidedTEOR been doing that for a couple decades now, enabling true level boarding (youtube.com/shorts/FEjAI...). It's hard to imagine that the tech or hardware would be particularly expensive, but adoption seems minimal.
IR started rolling out Kavach/TCS, IR's ATP w/ cab signalling, in 2020 (with trials before that). Only a small portion of the network currently has it (<5% IIRC). The current pace seems to be ~2,000km/yr, but the target is apparently 5,000km/yr.
October 5, 2025 at 8:52 PM
IR started rolling out Kavach/TCS, IR's ATP w/ cab signalling, in 2020 (with trials before that). Only a small portion of the network currently has it (<5% IIRC). The current pace seems to be ~2,000km/yr, but the target is apparently 5,000km/yr.
Regarding "service quality on a map": I recall seeing a pre-war US rail network map, posted for nostalgia, that *did* have frequencies... and yeah, the vast majority topped out at daily or worse.
October 2, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Regarding "service quality on a map": I recall seeing a pre-war US rail network map, posted for nostalgia, that *did* have frequencies... and yeah, the vast majority topped out at daily or worse.
I think this makes complete sense... with the caveat that the schedule is also knob you can turn. Setting an aggressive schedule with conditional priority should (citation needed) be better than hard coding aggressive TSP.
September 26, 2025 at 11:31 PM
I think this makes complete sense... with the caveat that the schedule is also knob you can turn. Setting an aggressive schedule with conditional priority should (citation needed) be better than hard coding aggressive TSP.
This part ("Standard gauge is considered ideal for metros because it imparts speed, manoeuvrability and safety") is actually pure, unadulterated, BS though.
Plus they (rightfully) chose 25kv AC @ 50hz, which *is* actually India-only for metros, so they'll need to order custom rolling stock anyway.
Plus they (rightfully) chose 25kv AC @ 50hz, which *is* actually India-only for metros, so they'll need to order custom rolling stock anyway.
September 17, 2025 at 4:57 PM
This part ("Standard gauge is considered ideal for metros because it imparts speed, manoeuvrability and safety") is actually pure, unadulterated, BS though.
Plus they (rightfully) chose 25kv AC @ 50hz, which *is* actually India-only for metros, so they'll need to order custom rolling stock anyway.
Plus they (rightfully) chose 25kv AC @ 50hz, which *is* actually India-only for metros, so they'll need to order custom rolling stock anyway.
Imagine HOV lanes, but the threshold is just 1 person lol
September 13, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Imagine HOV lanes, but the threshold is just 1 person lol
I'm curious how low average vehicle occupancy will go, once deadheading taxis (and all burrito taxis) don't have drivers.
September 13, 2025 at 5:27 PM
I'm curious how low average vehicle occupancy will go, once deadheading taxis (and all burrito taxis) don't have drivers.
I think very few of the pre-interstate expressways in the US were actual private ventures. The usual model seems to be: publicly built, but with tolls.
September 11, 2025 at 9:54 PM
I think very few of the pre-interstate expressways in the US were actual private ventures. The usual model seems to be: publicly built, but with tolls.
Negative shout-out to NACTO for explicitly discouraging this
September 11, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Negative shout-out to NACTO for explicitly discouraging this