The hottest Transport Substack posts right now

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The government is fixing something I complained about (Odds and Ends #91)

Odds and Ends of History • 469 implied HN points • 20 Mar 26
đź“° News Transport
  1. The government is moving to fix a problem that had been publicly complained about.
  2. Good government often means making hard choices that create winners and losers, and accepting those trade-offs is part of effective policymaking.
  3. Key tech and policy debates are front and centre: huge AI investment may not be a bubble, copyright for AI training is up for discussion, and Britain’s geospatial data is described as a mess.

SpaceX Magic

Chris’s Substack • 239 implied HN points • 18 Oct 24
đź•ą Technology 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.

Watch Those Assumptions!

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1864 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Transport
  1. Population projections for 2050 have been revised downward. Yet global energy demand is still expected to grow a lot, so fewer people doesn't automatically mean less energy use.
  2. Electric vehicle adoption is projected to rise dramatically around the world, especially in developing regions, and that could sharply reduce demand for liquid fuels if it accelerates. Small changes in EV trends can ripple across many other energy projections.
  3. Fossil fuels are likely to remain a large part of the energy mix through mid-century, with oil and gas plateauing and coal declining more slowly than hoped. The fastest way to cut emissions quickly would be to replace coal-fired power plants.

Some actual good news for once!

Odds and Ends of History • 469 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🎙 Podcasts Transport
  1. Cornwall could become Britain’s lithium and geothermal powerhouse as new projects develop there.
  2. London is finally set to get a pedestrianised Oxford Street after years of institutional gridlock.
  3. UK astronomy funding is under threat, and cuts to curiosity-driven fundamental research could seriously damage the country’s leadership in astronomy.
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Does that use a lot of energy?

Sustainability by numbers • 583 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Transport
  1. Energy use and emissions are hard to judge without context, so comparing common household activities helps show what’s actually big or small.
  2. The numbers are rough, based on typical usage, and the tool is deliberately simple to show order-of-magnitude differences rather than exact watt-hours.
  3. Users are invited to give feedback on wrong assumptions, broken components, missing items, or useful features, and the tool may later be expanded to include carbon-emissions comparisons.

HS2's gravel nightmare

Odds and Ends of History • 268 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🎙 Podcasts Transport
  1. Britain’s attempt to reform how it builds nuclear plants could be undermined if the country re-aligns its rules with the EU, because European regulations may block or complicate those domestic changes.
  2. The HS2 project and a local council adopted an extreme, complicated solution for a relatively minor gravel problem at Dobbins Lane, creating unnecessary drama and controversy.
  3. A new framework called 'Power Failure' argues we need to rethink how power operates, offering fresh explanations for why governments and institutions often fail to act effectively.

We could produce a lot of electricity on the land used for biofuels

Sustainability by numbers • 620 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Transport
  1. Putting solar panels on the roughly 32 million hectares now used for biofuels could generate about 32,000 TWh, which is roughly the world’s current annual electricity demand.
  2. That same land could easily power an all-electric global car and truck fleet (around 7,000 TWh), showing solar plus electrification is far more land-efficient than growing biofuels.
  3. Biofuels cannot realistically decarbonize aviation: using all current biofuels for jets would at best cover about one-third of demand, and collecting all waste cooking oils would only supply roughly 4%.

Does AI make you stupid?

Odds and Ends of History • 268 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
đź•ą Technology Transport
  1. A new study doubts that AI will deliver a big, immediate productivity boost, so the economic gains from AI may be smaller or slower than many expect.
  2. A small tweak to how government calculates value for money could hugely shift which infrastructure projects get approved, making things like northern railways look more or less viable.
  3. Experts argue public services need reform for the age of AI, offering practical ideas for how governments can use AI to improve services while managing risks.

Build the Rail! Save the Snails!

Comment is Freed • 125 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Transport
  1. The core problem isn’t the environmental rules but an adversarial, litigation‑driven planning system that makes developers over‑engineer projects to avoid rare but ruinously expensive judicial reviews, driving up time and cost.
  2. Fix the process by having government set clear standards early and create a central Infrastructure Directorate to coordinate consultees and produce a full project specification, plus an early "Statement of Key Issues" so objections are raised and dealt with up front and money shifts from costly pre‑construction work into real mitigation and building.
  3. Change the culture by expanding state planning capacity (funded by an industry levy) and increasing secondments between industry, regulators and environmental bodies so professionals share incentives and focus on cooperative, long‑term problem solving rather than adversarial legal tactics.

Somehow, HS2 to Manchester returned

Odds and Ends of History • 335 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🎙 Podcasts Transport
  1. The government's U-turn on digital ID is being treated like a huge scandal, but the reaction is overblown and doesn't need hysterical coverage.
  2. A 17th-century Cromwell-era engineering project is even visible from space, and its story has surprising parallels with modern big rail schemes like HS2.
  3. Northern Powerhouse Rail has been revived, including a new Birmingham–Manchester line that closely resembles the old HS2 plans.

One last rage before Christmas (Odds and Ends #84)

Odds and Ends of History • 603 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
đź“° News Transport
  1. Britain can't even build a tram system where it's most needed, which shows big failures in local transport planning and delivery.
  2. The National Grid's connection queue is broken and is blocking new homebuilding; in London, data centres and households are now fighting for the same limited electricity supply.
  3. Keir Starmer seems caught between two big ideas, leaving his political direction unclear.

Walking Surrey England

Chris Arnade Walks the World • 793 implied HN points • 26 Nov 25
🏝 Travel Transport
  1. The author enjoys the local Wetherspoon pub for its affordable drinks and relaxed atmosphere, highlighting a sense of community among diverse patrons.
  2. Despite England's rich history and culture, there are issues with infrastructure and efficiency, leading to frequent frustrations for travelers.
  3. The author's experience with public transport showcases the chaos and delays in the system, emphasizing a struggle with everyday logistics in daily life.

The Abundance Christmas Quiz!

Odds and Ends of History • 469 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🎙 Podcasts Transport
  1. A special Christmas quiz episode focuses on transport, infrastructure and urbanism topics in a festive format.
  2. The quiz is hosted by Only Connect question-writer Stephen Jorgenson-Murray and features panellists CityEd and comedian/author Andrew Hunter Murray.
  3. The episode is part of The Abundance Agenda podcast, available on major platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and Substack, with links to hosts' newsletters and a request for listeners to share and leave reviews.

What happened on energy and climate in China this year?

Sustainability by numbers • 475 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Transport
  1. China’s total CO2 emissions were basically flat this year, showing almost no growth despite rising energy demand.
  2. A huge buildout of renewables and nuclear pushed electricity emissions down and rapid EV adoption cut oil use in transport, backed by a massive rollout of chargers.
  3. Industrial emissions rose and new coal plants are still being built, which offsets some gains and makes the timing of an emissions peak uncertain.

Why I still believe in HS2

Odds and Ends of History • 2278 implied HN points • 30 May 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Transport
  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.

Britain still isn't moving fast enough

Odds and Ends of History • 1474 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Transport
  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.

HS2: The day they cancelled the 21st Century

Striking 13 • 2176 implied HN points • 04 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics 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

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 Transport
  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.

Many Victorian cities grew by tenfold in a century

The Works in Progress Newsletter • 55 implied HN points • 03 Feb 26
đź’ľ History Transport
  1. Cities in the nineteenth century grew hugely while getting better: wide, connected street networks, modern sewers, running water and mass transit let homes become larger and more affordable relative to incomes.
  2. Governments used regulated monopolies, concessions or municipal companies and charged users enough to pay for big upfront costs. That alignment of private profit and public benefit let operators build coherent, non‑duplicative networks.
  3. Since 1914 many of those arrangements unraveled and were replaced by zoning, price controls and subsidies, which slowed growth and worsened housing affordability. Cities that want faster growth and more housing should consider permissive building rights, coordinated street planning, and financing models that align private incentives with public goods.

Ethiopia needs a reliable seaport and a navy

An Africanist Perspective • 732 implied HN points • 03 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics 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.

China massively overbuilt high-speed rail, says leading economic geographer

Pekingnology • 415 implied HN points • 19 Jul 25
🌍 World Politics Transport
  1. China has built an extensive high-speed rail network, but many lines are not being used enough, leading to large financial losses.
  2. The planning and construction of high-speed rail lines often ignore actual passenger demand, resulting in projects that are not economically viable.
  3. Some high-speed rail stations are located far from city centers, making them inconvenient for travelers, which adds to the overall problem of underutilization.

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

Londonist: Time Machine • 179 implied HN points • 19 Apr 24
đź’ľ History Transport
  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.

Why American needs fewer bus stops

The Works in Progress Newsletter • 29 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🪑 Design Transport
  1. American buses stop too often, which makes them slow, unreliable, and less useful than driving. Increasing the distance between stops (stop balancing) speeds buses up and expands how far riders can get in the same time.
  2. Stop balancing is cheap and quick to do and lowers operating costs because faster routes need fewer drivers to maintain the same frequency. Agencies can use those savings to run more service or protect routes from cuts.
  3. Fewer, better-placed stops let agencies invest in higher-quality shelters, real-time info, and safer sidewalks, improving the rider experience and visibility of the network. Closing overlapping stops usually only slightly reduces coverage while making the remaining stops more useful and likely to attract riders.

Mini Exasperation #5

Exasperated Infrastructures • 14 implied HN points • 07 Feb 26
🪑 Design Transport
  1. Space Syntax is a science‑based, human‑focused method for linking spatial layout to social, economic, and environmental outcomes, and Depthmap is the open‑source software used to run those analyses.
  2. Its key metrics are "choice," which predicts which street segments travelers are likely to use for trips of set distances, and "integration," which measures how connected intersections are across the network.
  3. Space Syntax is not an agent‑based model and doesn’t simulate individual behavior or real‑world attributes, so it requires careful data cleaning and must be interpreted alongside GIS, observed data, and knowledge of network limitations.