Category Archives: Transport

Brechin’s Revenge on Beeching

Posted on April 22, 2013 by davidsberry

What was disappointing about the half-century anniversary of Dr Beeching’s evil œuvre “The Reshaping of British Railways” wasn’t that comment and opinion was as divided as on the death of Margaret Thatcher and pushed it off the page (political bedfellows … Continue reading →

Posted in Transport | Tagged | 5 Comments

Who Do You Think You Were Kidding, Dr Beeching?

Posted on April 15, 2013 by davidsberry

Fifty years on from the Beeching Report, it is still hard to get an objective analysis of its recommendations and the impact of those that were followed. The Beeching Report recommended taking an axe to about a third of the network—5,000 … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Transport | Tagged | 1 Comment

Why No Searchlights On Titanic?

Posted on November 19, 2012 by davidsberry

Easily the greatest maritime tragedy that can be regarded as avoidable was the 1912 sinking of the brand new White Star liner RMS Titanic on its maiden voyage. Fitted to the most opulent standards of the time, no cost was … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Transport | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Terminal Condition

Posted on October 31, 2012 by davidsberry

Many are the praises that have been sung about traveling in America. Whether it’s the complex network of airlines that fly you hither and yon across that vast country or the Tera-acres of tarmac laid out in three-and four-lane ribboned … Continue reading →

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Embra-rassing: A Public Transport Pygmy

Posted on October 1, 2012 by davidsberry

  The recent criticism of restructuring the EGIP railway electrification project to bring Scotland’s key intercity track out of the 19th century rather misses the point. As with the rest of Britain, we think that throwing money at individual lines … Continue reading →

Posted in Transport | Tagged | 3 Comments

How to Run a Railroad

Posted on September 21, 2012 by davidsberry

We apologise to readers here in search of soaring rhetoric on broadminded topics; today you have come to the wrong place. This blog is not just about things local to East Lothian but written wearing the tasteless anorak of a … Continue reading →

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Firstest with the Leastest

Posted on August 17, 2012 by davidsberry

I like Americans. They are generally direct people who can’t abide havering around and generally “tell it like it is”, albeit sometimes gracelessly. Their Confederate General Forrest went down in history ascribing victory to whoever entered battle the “Fustest with … Continue reading →

Posted in Transport | Tagged | 1 Comment

A Proud City Goes Begging

Posted on August 13, 2012 by davidsberry

I have always been a booster for Edinburgh as a city: a walkable, architecturally inspired romp across hill and dale that encourages exploration of its compact city centre and trademark panoramas. Its soul sisters Lisbon and San Francisco come close … Continue reading →

Posted in Transport | Tagged | 1 Comment

North of East Coast Eden

Posted on July 21, 2012 by davidsberry

On June 26th, the UK Department for Transport published its Consultation on the East Coast Rail Franchise, to which all assiduous anoraks will have replied by the closing date of September 18th. The summary of results are to be published, … Continue reading →

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South Suburban Salvation

Posted on July 13, 2012 by davidsberry

Edinburgh’s train services suck. As a result, its public transport sucks. Even if the trams are completed—including the abandoned original loop to Leith, Granton and Craigleith—it will still have a third-world transport system. In the absence of any underground at … Continue reading →

Posted in Transport | Tagged | 4 Comments