Diego
@ryukyu-hsr.bsky.social
Southeast North-Rhine-Westphalia.
Blog: metrovelododo.wordpress.com
Blog: metrovelododo.wordpress.com
Venite ad me, frater.
October 4, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Venite ad me, frater.
The early industrial revolution was quite a break with the slow-economic-growth past, but it still fell short of the 2% per-capita growth per year achieved in the 20th century by countries at the tech frontier.
This Austen snippet gives a clue why.
This Austen snippet gives a clue why.
September 27, 2025 at 4:56 PM
The early industrial revolution was quite a break with the slow-economic-growth past, but it still fell short of the 2% per-capita growth per year achieved in the 20th century by countries at the tech frontier.
This Austen snippet gives a clue why.
This Austen snippet gives a clue why.
If you're wondering why I've been less active these last few days.
September 5, 2025 at 2:01 PM
If you're wondering why I've been less active these last few days.
I'd rather take a lukewarm shower than trust this abomination.
September 2, 2025 at 7:10 PM
I'd rather take a lukewarm shower than trust this abomination.
While we were admiring the view of the city, 2 toucans flew in to a tree right in front of us.
August 29, 2025 at 12:34 PM
While we were admiring the view of the city, 2 toucans flew in to a tree right in front of us.
I took a screenshot of Google maps, the throat of the station is in the NE corner, the branching off of the Charleroi line in the SW. The "eurostar flyover" is going over almost the whole ROW. I can imagine a parallel flyover, but then there'll be some at grade conflicts
August 9, 2025 at 9:36 PM
I took a screenshot of Google maps, the throat of the station is in the NE corner, the branching off of the Charleroi line in the SW. The "eurostar flyover" is going over almost the whole ROW. I can imagine a parallel flyover, but then there'll be some at grade conflicts
See also Brussels tram 8 (blue line here). An older relative says it was moved to the other side of Avenue Louise (the ROW in the northwest) so it could get out of the way of cars. It didn't use to take that first 90 degree left turn, it took a gentler turn onto the road you see along the small park
August 7, 2025 at 6:00 AM
See also Brussels tram 8 (blue line here). An older relative says it was moved to the other side of Avenue Louise (the ROW in the northwest) so it could get out of the way of cars. It didn't use to take that first 90 degree left turn, it took a gentler turn onto the road you see along the small park
16. Electrifying the 10 km branch between Au and Altenkirchen. It's only used by 1 small railbus per hour, BUT that diesel train continues for 30 km until Siegen, so you're electrifying 40 km for the price of 10. (Or extend the Cologne S12 to Siegen and force a change in Au for the diesel branch)
July 29, 2025 at 6:27 PM
16. Electrifying the 10 km branch between Au and Altenkirchen. It's only used by 1 small railbus per hour, BUT that diesel train continues for 30 km until Siegen, so you're electrifying 40 km for the price of 10. (Or extend the Cologne S12 to Siegen and force a change in Au for the diesel branch)
13. As long as we're doing fishy HS lines, how about Brussels-Charleroi-Luxembourg. Much like Brussels-Antwerp, Brussels-Charleroi is shamefully slow: 50 km in 50 min. And in general, this would better connect the Benelux with Alsace/Switzerland.
July 29, 2025 at 6:07 PM
13. As long as we're doing fishy HS lines, how about Brussels-Charleroi-Luxembourg. Much like Brussels-Antwerp, Brussels-Charleroi is shamefully slow: 50 km in 50 min. And in general, this would better connect the Benelux with Alsace/Switzerland.
12. Since @nilo.bsky.social already mentioned the Rio-São Paulo HSR, I'll propose the Northeastern version. Fortaleza-Mossoró-Natal-João Pessoa-Recife. That's metro areas of 4M, 300k, 1.6M, 1.3M and 4M connected in a 700 km corridor.
Fishy at current Brazilian wealth, but maybe later?
Fishy at current Brazilian wealth, but maybe later?
July 29, 2025 at 5:52 PM
12. Since @nilo.bsky.social already mentioned the Rio-São Paulo HSR, I'll propose the Northeastern version. Fortaleza-Mossoró-Natal-João Pessoa-Recife. That's metro areas of 4M, 300k, 1.6M, 1.3M and 4M connected in a 700 km corridor.
Fishy at current Brazilian wealth, but maybe later?
Fishy at current Brazilian wealth, but maybe later?
9. Build already the second metro trunk through downtown Rio de Janeiro. This would allow the two lines to finally be deinterlined, bringing some much needed capacity relief.
Absurd that in a region of 12M people, there are only 2 tracks worth of rapid transit through downtown.
Absurd that in a region of 12M people, there are only 2 tracks worth of rapid transit through downtown.
July 29, 2025 at 11:16 AM
9. Build already the second metro trunk through downtown Rio de Janeiro. This would allow the two lines to finally be deinterlined, bringing some much needed capacity relief.
Absurd that in a region of 12M people, there are only 2 tracks worth of rapid transit through downtown.
Absurd that in a region of 12M people, there are only 2 tracks worth of rapid transit through downtown.
The benefits of a 20 km bypass along the E40, joining the legacy line near the airport at the point of closest approach:
- making the route 4 km shorter
- avoiding the slowdown in Leuven
- higher top speed
The time benefit is 5 min. Worth it if it can be done for 500M EUR, including a short tunnel?
- making the route 4 km shorter
- avoiding the slowdown in Leuven
- higher top speed
The time benefit is 5 min. Worth it if it can be done for 500M EUR, including a short tunnel?
July 29, 2025 at 11:06 AM
The benefits of a 20 km bypass along the E40, joining the legacy line near the airport at the point of closest approach:
- making the route 4 km shorter
- avoiding the slowdown in Leuven
- higher top speed
The time benefit is 5 min. Worth it if it can be done for 500M EUR, including a short tunnel?
- making the route 4 km shorter
- avoiding the slowdown in Leuven
- higher top speed
The time benefit is 5 min. Worth it if it can be done for 500M EUR, including a short tunnel?
7. While we're talking about Brussels-Cologne, I have some ideas of how to speed up travel between them. The station rebuilds would already help a lot, probably ~15 min combined with the increase in speed+reliability.
Another big plus would be completing the Cologne-Aachen HS line (from Düren).
Another big plus would be completing the Cologne-Aachen HS line (from Düren).
July 29, 2025 at 10:55 AM
7. While we're talking about Brussels-Cologne, I have some ideas of how to speed up travel between them. The station rebuilds would already help a lot, probably ~15 min combined with the increase in speed+reliability.
Another big plus would be completing the Cologne-Aachen HS line (from Düren).
Another big plus would be completing the Cologne-Aachen HS line (from Düren).
6. I'm in fact a big fan of station rebuilds that simplify the track layout to optimise speed, reliability and throughput. Another station in dire need of such a rebuild is Köln Hbf, I daydream about it each time I'm stuck on the Hohenzollern bridge.
July 29, 2025 at 10:47 AM
6. I'm in fact a big fan of station rebuilds that simplify the track layout to optimise speed, reliability and throughput. Another station in dire need of such a rebuild is Köln Hbf, I daydream about it each time I'm stuck on the Hohenzollern bridge.
5. Rebuild the approaches to stations Bruxelles Nord and Midi to eliminate flat junctions. I believe this can be done by building a few (3?) viaducts north and south of the centre of Brussels.
Sadly I lost the sketches I had made, but the image below gives an idea of the current mess.
Sadly I lost the sketches I had made, but the image below gives an idea of the current mess.
July 29, 2025 at 10:43 AM
5. Rebuild the approaches to stations Bruxelles Nord and Midi to eliminate flat junctions. I believe this can be done by building a few (3?) viaducts north and south of the centre of Brussels.
Sadly I lost the sketches I had made, but the image below gives an idea of the current mess.
Sadly I lost the sketches I had made, but the image below gives an idea of the current mess.
4. While we're here, build a southern extension of line 3, 3.5 km to Uccle Calevoet rail station along Chaussée d'Alsemberg, which is currently served by a mixed traffic tram. Alsemberg corridor is the densest corridor in Uccle, the final km isn't very dense though and could be cut.
July 29, 2025 at 10:11 AM
4. While we're here, build a southern extension of line 3, 3.5 km to Uccle Calevoet rail station along Chaussée d'Alsemberg, which is currently served by a mixed traffic tram. Alsemberg corridor is the densest corridor in Uccle, the final km isn't very dense though and could be cut.
Me when the Rijksmuseum shows paintings from the house of Nassau-Siegen expedition to Brazil
July 6, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Me when the Rijksmuseum shows paintings from the house of Nassau-Siegen expedition to Brazil
Looking at Avenue Louise in Brussels, it's clear that trams are a conspiracy to make the streets more auto-oriented.
Very convenient for the car tunnels that there's no metro tunnel on the way.
Also very convenient for the trams that there are fewer cross streets to slow them down.
Very convenient for the car tunnels that there's no metro tunnel on the way.
Also very convenient for the trams that there are fewer cross streets to slow them down.
June 19, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Looking at Avenue Louise in Brussels, it's clear that trams are a conspiracy to make the streets more auto-oriented.
Very convenient for the car tunnels that there's no metro tunnel on the way.
Also very convenient for the trams that there are fewer cross streets to slow them down.
Very convenient for the car tunnels that there's no metro tunnel on the way.
Also very convenient for the trams that there are fewer cross streets to slow them down.
In Germany being a train freak isn't considered shameful at all.
June 18, 2025 at 5:52 PM
In Germany being a train freak isn't considered shameful at all.
Some light reading for the train ride?
June 18, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Some light reading for the train ride?
DB runs the odd ICE in name only. Such trains are rare and I assume politically motivated, bestowing the prestige of Fernverkehr on each Dorf on the way.
I find it a bit of a stretch to call 900 km in 10h "express" service, it's no faster than driving.
I find it a bit of a stretch to call 900 km in 10h "express" service, it's no faster than driving.
June 3, 2025 at 7:55 PM
DB runs the odd ICE in name only. Such trains are rare and I assume politically motivated, bestowing the prestige of Fernverkehr on each Dorf on the way.
I find it a bit of a stretch to call 900 km in 10h "express" service, it's no faster than driving.
I find it a bit of a stretch to call 900 km in 10h "express" service, it's no faster than driving.
This thing built in 1929 in the US is one of the earliest flight simulators. It could move in response to pilot input.
(Seen today at the Deutches Technikmuseum)
(Seen today at the Deutches Technikmuseum)
May 24, 2025 at 8:19 PM
This thing built in 1929 in the US is one of the earliest flight simulators. It could move in response to pilot input.
(Seen today at the Deutches Technikmuseum)
(Seen today at the Deutches Technikmuseum)
Lol this guy. I don't even follow WS. It's unhealthy to be this hate-obsessed with someone.
May 17, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Lol this guy. I don't even follow WS. It's unhealthy to be this hate-obsessed with someone.
Wintering in Antarctica is a bit like space travel. The stars are always with you in the polar night. Nobody else to see other than your team mates. No way to go home early in an emergency.
The book below is a hearfelt personal account of what modern polar exploration is like.
The book below is a hearfelt personal account of what modern polar exploration is like.
May 17, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Wintering in Antarctica is a bit like space travel. The stars are always with you in the polar night. Nobody else to see other than your team mates. No way to go home early in an emergency.
The book below is a hearfelt personal account of what modern polar exploration is like.
The book below is a hearfelt personal account of what modern polar exploration is like.