The hottest Transport Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Britain still isn't moving fast enough

Odds and Ends of History • 1474 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Infrastructure Government Democracy Transport Policy
  1. Building infrastructure in Britain is taking way too long, with projects like HS2 getting pushed back to 2036 or later. This is frustrating for people who want improvements now.
  2. Despite the government announcing plans to speed things up, the actual timelines for construction are still disheartening. Many projects won't be finished until 2040 or later.
  3. There's a disconnect between politicians making infrastructure decisions and seeing real changes in communities. Voters deserve to see results during their elected leaders' terms.

Why I still believe in HS2

Odds and Ends of History • 2278 implied HN points • 30 May 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Infrastructure Transport Policy Economy Public Opinion
  1. HS2 is important for connecting cities quickly and improving transportation. Finishing the railway is seen as essential for the country's future.
  2. Even though the project has faced delays and rising costs, stopping it now would mean losing valuable benefits that HS2 could bring.
  3. Investing in HS2 will help relieve pressure on existing train lines, allowing for more local services and better freight transport, which is crucial for overall infrastructure.

The National Parking Platform is a big, exciting deal and you should know about it

Odds and Ends of History • 1608 implied HN points • 22 May 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Policy Transport Infrastructure Data Management
  1. The National Parking Platform (NPP) is a new data system that makes paying for parking easier by allowing any payment app to work with any car park. This means you won't have to download many apps just to park your car.
  2. This platform collects data from all car parks, which helps local authorities manage parking better and reduce traffic by making sure spaces are used efficiently.
  3. The NPP could lead to new ways of thinking about parking, like offering discounts for electric cars or using real-time data to help drivers find available spots before they arrive.

SpaceX Magic

Chris’s Substack • 239 implied HN points • 18 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Space Exploration Aerospace Engineering Innovation Transport
  1. SpaceX successfully launched Starship and caught its returning booster mid-air using a unique chopsticks method. This makes the booster reusable, saving fuel for future launches.
  2. With plans for future flights, SpaceX is addressing small issues found in the last flight to ensure their next mission goes smoothly and demonstrates reliable reentry.
  3. Starship is being designed for missions to the Moon and Mars, and with improved technology, SpaceX aims to make space travel affordable and accessible for many in the future.

HS2: The day they cancelled the 21st Century

Striking 13 • 2176 implied HN points • 04 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics Infrastructure Economy Environment Climate Transport
  1. HS2 project cancellation in the UK is criticized for hindering progress and development, especially in terms of infrastructure, economy, and environmental impact
  2. HS2 aimed to address capacity issues in the existing rail system, improve connectivity, and contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing carbon emissions from travel
  3. The decision to cancel HS2 is seen as short-sighted, as it not only fails to save money but also overlooks the long-term benefits and potential financial gains of the project
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What's Holding Up Progress?

In My Tribe • 410 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🕹 Technology AI Innovation Regulation Economics Transport
  1. Self-driving taxis could change the way we think about car ownership. They might make owning a personal car feel less safe over time.
  2. Many great ideas from the past are still unused because of rules and culture blocking them. There's a huge potential in reviving these old ideas in new ways.
  3. Regulations are slowing down progress, especially in Europe. The rules are making it harder for economies to grow, even though they should be benefiting from things like a big market.

Ethiopia needs a reliable seaport and a navy

An Africanist Perspective • 732 implied HN points • 03 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Navy Economic Security Transport
  1. Ethiopia needs a reliable seaport and navy to secure its economic future and overcome the costs associated with being landlocked.
  2. Access to a reliable seaport is crucial for Ethiopia's trade-driven output growth, industrialization, and agricultural exports.
  3. Considering historical and geopolitical challenges, building a navy is essential for Ethiopia to protect its economic interests, secure seaport treaties, and deter aggression from rivals.

"Life on This Earth in the Year A.D. 2000"

Londonist: Time Machine • 179 implied HN points • 19 Apr 24
💾 History London Transport Competition Events Architecture
  1. In 1954, there was a competition predicting life in the year 2000, with a focus on London's transport future.
  2. The competition attracted a diverse group of participants from various backgrounds and regions around the world.
  3. Transportation was the most popular topic in the competition, with the winning proposals envisioning rooftop roadways for London in 2000.

Drone Age 2023

Diane Francis • 499 implied HN points • 02 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Drones Transport Logistics Delivery Innovation
  1. Drones are becoming a key part of logistics, allowing for deliveries of groceries and packages, which could change how we get our goods.
  2. Major companies like Amazon and Walmart are already testing delivery by drones, and places like Britain are creating dedicated drone highways to make this more efficient.
  3. The future could see flying taxis, transporting people quickly and reducing traffic, all thanks to advancements in drone technology and better regulations.

Twitter's transport experts are wrong, and I know better than them

Odds and Ends of History • 603 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🕹 Technology Transport Autonomy Safety Economics Future
  1. The writer disagrees with Twitter's transport experts about driverless buses and thinks they could revolutionize transport.
  2. Autonomous buses could lead to cheaper, more efficient public transportation and help reduce carbon emissions.
  3. The potential of autonomous buses lies in making public transport more convenient, increasing capacity, and reducing the need for private vehicles.

Electrification is efficiency: The world will need less energy after the energy transition

Sustainability by numbers • 248 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Efficiency Electrification Energy transition Transport
  1. Electrification leads to greater efficiency in energy systems.
  2. Transitioning to electrification results in a significant drop in final energy demand.
  3. Different sectors have varying prospects for electrification, with some showing more opportunities than others.

Links in Progress: Expanding the Mediterranean's busiest port

The Works in Progress Newsletter • 8 implied HN points • 05 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Infrastructure Transport Energy Construction Innovation
  1. There's a new rail tunnel in Switzerland that cuts travel time between Switzerland and Italy by an hour. It's called the Gotthard Base Tunnel.
  2. A massive tunnel is being built between Denmark and Germany that will make travel faster by replacing a ferry with a quick car drive. It will be one of the longest tunnels in the world.
  3. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is getting a driverless monorail to connect different areas. It's part of a bigger plan to improve public transport in the city.

The problem with isochrones: overcoming false precision in drive time maps

Expand Mapping with Mike Morrow • 3 HN points • 15 Dec 23
🔬 Science Mapping Accuracy Uncertainty Transport Data Visualization
  1. Drive time isochrones can give a false sense of precision because they are based on average traffic conditions, which can vary greatly.
  2. Improving isochrone accuracy can be done by increasing the number of trips, testing different conditions, and varied departure angles.
  3. To better communicate uncertainty, consider simplifying isochrone shapes and creating bands to show the range of possible outcomes.

Self-Driving Cars Pedalled a Lie So Far?

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 0 implied HN points • 09 Oct 23
🕹 Technology AI Autonomous Vehicles Robotics Transport Innovation
  1. Tesla's self-driving cars are not fully autonomous; they are at Level 2, meaning drivers still have to be ready to take control anytime.
  2. Wayve, a UK company, has achieved Level 5 technology, where cars can drive themselves completely without human intervention.
  3. Wayve's system uses a new approach called GAIA-1 that combines video, text, and actions to create realistic driving scenarios.

River Indie Electric Scooter: Don't Buy

Kartick’s Blog • 0 implied HN points • 09 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Gadgets Reviews Transport Innovation Startups
  1. The River Indie Electric Scooter is heavy and hard to maneuver, making it less user-friendly compared to lighter models like the Ather.
  2. The scooter has ongoing issues with its turn indicators, as they often don't work properly.
  3. Buying from River, a new company that has sold only 3,000 scooters, is risky compared to more established brands like Ather or TVS.