Interesting Links for 24-09-2016

[nwhyte]

An ode to the night train
How the EU has unintentionally killed romance.
(tags: travel rail eu )

The Real Power of Putin by Benjamin Nathans
Fascinating on the leader and his country.
(tags: russia )

The Eruditorum Press Doctor Who Poll
Vote! Vote! Vote!
(tags: doctorwho )

Comments

[londonkds]

That enthusiastic night train article fails to mention the many people, including me, who are completely unable to sleep on a moving vehicle, even if lying down. Observation on holiday boards suggest that there are more of us than sleeping-car enthusiasts think.

[resonant]

I can't sleep on trains when the mattress is parallel to the tracks, but I'm fine when the mattress is perpendicular. Tried it on the same train line, so it's not related to track conditions.

[fanf]

I get the impression that the EU rail competition policy is an example of British success at influencing EU policy, exporting our domestic successes (hem hem). However I don't know if my impression bears any resemblance to the actual reality of where this policy came from. (Of course there is a general drive to de-monopolization across the board, and the British government has been keen on it for decades; but is the EU naturally keen on it or will they relax a bit after brexit?)

[resonant]

When the UK got rid of its overnight trains from London to Edenburogqhurgle, Canada's VIA Rail snapped up the rolling stock. They are quite comfortable.

[londonkds]

Those aren't stock from the Anglo-Scottish sleepers, which still exist. They were built for sleeper trains to Europe through the Channel Tunnel, which never happened because air deregulation created budget airlines and destroyed their market.

[kevin_standlee]

Trains are the only form of moving vehicle upon which I can easily sleep, which is ironic given that when I'm on the train, I don't want to sleep - I want to see the scenery