Politics and History
The history of public transport in Australia and the political consequences of this history.
What might have been: Sir John Monash or Sir Harold Clapp?
Since my new job, as a human pedestrian crossing track circuit, I’ve got a lot of time on my hands, which I’ve been putting to reading. Amongst other things, I’ve been reading John Monash: A Biography by Geoffrey Serle (Melbourne University Press, 1982. ISBN 0 522 84239 9). It’s a... »
Canberra: What might have been?
I’ve started on my summer reading list and the first title to be knocked over is Designing Australian Cities by Robert Freestone. A broad sweeping title for a book which is narrowly focused on one topic – the City Beautiful movement of the first couple of decades of the C20th. As we enter the second... »
Christmas: Will the turkeys vote for it?
I’ve been busy with other things but am keen to keep this place going with useful contributions to public transport thinking. I’ve been a bit guarded about my line of work but let’s just imagine this post is relevant to it. I caught the end of an exchange in the Herald Sun letters section. The person... »
A Summer reading list
It's a tradition in the British Parliament that during the Summer recess, the deeper thinkers in some of the political parties compile a Summer reading list for MPs to read. With the end of the academic year, the last exam taken care of and as the work year starts to run down, the long,... »
Back to the future – Mainline electrification in Australia?
Recent issues of UK rail magazines have discussed the merits of extending conventional (medium speed up to 200km/h) rail services along the remaining non-electrified main lines in that country. Some of these have recently been announced, including in Scotland, while other iconic possibilities include the Great Western Railway territory, a famous home of fast... »
The fantasy of a free market in urban development
Peter Costello wrote a column in today’s Fairfax arguing for smaller government. In the Liberal Party’s search for meaning, it is not surprising that the passe ideas are reemerging. And cynics might wonder whether he’s also sewing up his own legacy and making it known that the highest taxing federal government in Australian history –... »
On the seventh day he rested: Discussion post
Transport reviews and planning are still regarding Sunday as different from Saturday in terms of service standards. The latest offender is the Sydney SW sector bus servicing plan, which has a Saturday service standard till midnight but a Sunday one till 9pm only. Let’s talk lifestyle everyone. What do people do these days? Are they... »
Silos are for wheat, not for managing public transport
The only silos a transport operator should have Are for bulk grains like wheat. Paul Mees, in his recent submission to the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Train Services, appended his paper Does Melbourne need another central city rail tunnel? which reminded me, when I read it, of why I went into the business (or hobby) of... »
What if?… Counter-factual transport histories
As a historian by training, I was inspired by this thread at the Other Place to think about some counter-factual transport history scenarios in Australia. »
What is the role of the railway station? Facility or heritage?
Nunawading – a station of no great merit to be destroyed, and replaced with another of no great merit. A recent post on Smartpassengers’ forum (a advocacy group for Melbourne public transport) on their heritage policy got my brain engaged in looking at how to fit heritage into a modern rail system. However I would like... »