Railways Explained

In the latest RE video, which is from the Railway Nation series, we tries to uncover the incredible success story of the Sweden’s railway system! Namely, we started this video by making a brief retrospective of Sweden's transformation of its railway system, which back in 1988 pioneered a revolutionary new model, now widespread across Europe - segregation of rail infrastructure and operations into distinct government-owned entities. Then, we tried to explore the key legislative acts that reshaped the Swedish railway sector and prioritized efficiency, customer orientation, and profitability. We also discussed the formation of the Swedish Transport Administration in 2010, responsible for long-term infrastructure planning across various transport modes, and what it brought to traffic operations, as well as explored the efficiency and effectiveness of the Swedish railways, by presenting the key facts and figures about the Swedish rail system, including track length, the state of electrification, high-speed capabilities, and transport performance in both freight and passenger segments. Finally, we talked about some recent developments, such as plans for a high-speed rail network in Sweden and the procurement of new trainsets. We also tried to gain some new insights into freight operations, particularly in technically challenging ore transport in the Arctic Circle. If you are interested in this topic, and want to find out what our conclusions was, check out the video! https://lnkd.in/ebR4ATsi

As you might know, there are many occupations within the railway industry! However, for some of them, their formal names and responsibilities, may very well vary depending on the country and the specific railway system. For example, what is in Europe a train driver, is a train engineer in the US, some countries have train conductors, some train guards, train attendants, or train crew. There are also train dispatchers and train controllers, station masters and train masters, all being different (or same), depending on whether you are in Europe, USA, UK, Australia, India, etc. Regardless of these differences, the fact is, as railways are big and robust systems, there are so many men and women who put their work into the daily functioning of the railway system. For example, there are groups of jobs related to the traction of trains, which include train drivers and mechanical engineers, there are groups of jobs related to traffic organization, maintenance of rail tracks, signals, rail vehicles etc. Of course, there are also several different organizational units and services within railway companies of 'general interest', such as those in charge of planning, investments, development, finances, IT, human recourses, accounting, procurement, responding in emergency situations, etc. In any case, in today's RE video we kept our focus on the most essential rail professions, and we tried to briefly explain what are they all about! https://lnkd.in/d76mJSaC

In newest RE video, we tried to uncover background, project development, construction, costs, and, of course, the wide-ranging benefits of the worlds longest undersea tunnel - the Seikan Tunnel in Japan! The Seikan Tunnel, an engineering marvel of international significance, stands as a testament to human ingenuity and determination, and it connects the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido. It overcame formidable geographical and environmental challenges and transformed the economic and social landscape of Japan. It is also the world's longest undersea tunnel and even held the record as the longest of all tunnels - until Switzerland's Gotthard Base Tunnel opened (2016). This Tunnel was officially opened during 1988, after approx. 24 years of heavy works.  It features a double-track cross-section with a length of 53.85 km, including a 23.3 km stretch under the seabed. The tunnel's track level is approximately 100 m below the seabed and 240 m below sea level. What is also good to know is that in 2005, the Hokkaido Shinkansen project was launched, with the aim of extending the Shinkansen network through the tunnel with a three-track rail system (it was narrow gauge initially but build with Shinkansen standards in mind!). Shinkansen services began in 2016, connecting Tokyo and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto stations, in just four hours and two minutes. https://lnkd.in/eUdTT7vp

High Speed 2, commonly referred to as HS2, was envisioned as the UK's mega project that ultimately turned into a colossal disaster. The original plan was for the HS2 line to be an extension of the HS1, forming a comprehensive Y-shaped network that would link the North, Midlands, and South of the UK, and provide connectivity to 8 out of the 10 largest cities in the UK. Regrettably, the result was a disjointed project that not only failed to integrate with HS1 but also neglected to connect the South and North regions as initially anticipated. Namely, first, in November 2021, Phase 2b east to Leeds was cancelled, along with the decision not to build a full high-speed east-west line connecting Manchester to Leeds. This decision was justified by the claim that the project could be delivered more efficiently and at a lower cost. Then, in June 2022, the 21 km stretch of new track to the West Coast Main Line at Golbourne, a part of Phase 2b West, was also cancelled. And finally, recently, UK's Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, made the decision to axe the entire Phase 2 of HS2! This move was prompted by weakening of the economic case for the project, primarily by the doubling of costs since the project was initially approved over a decade ago... However... In today's RE video we analyze Sunak's decision to cancel Phase 2 in more detail, we state some of it's far reaching implications, and give our view of this whole situation that gained some momentum in the past few months. Check it out if interested, and share with us your thoughts about the so called 'Sunak's axe'! https://lnkd.in/eHXUgFAW

In our latest video, we dive deep into the pivotal transformation of British Rail through privatization. This chapter in railway history marks a significant shift in the management and operation of Britain's rail network, reshaping the industry's landscape. We've previously explored the origins of railways in Britain and their evolution, including the railway mania, consolidation into the Big Four, and nationalization post-World War II. If you're new to our series, we recommend watching our earlier videos for a full historical context. Our video details the steps towards the restructuring and privatization of British Rail, initiated under the Conservative Party's governance. Influenced by EU regulations, this move involved a significant reorganization, separating infrastructure management from operations and introducing competitive tendering for passenger services. #uk #railway #railwaysexplained #privatization #reforms

In today's video we continue uncovering the story of railway development in Great Britain, as part of a special trilogy marking the Railways Explained's achievement of 100,000 subscribers! This is actually the second video in series, and it covers a period from the aftermath of World War II to the momentous era of rail privatization, which was quite challenging period for British railways, full of ups and downs, but it is mostly marked by the formidable challenges. We talked about the pivotal moments, such as the birth of British Railways, the ambitious Modernisation Plan, the influential Beeching Report, structural reforms, and the eventual transition to rail privatization, which all defined the British railways during this transformative period. This insightful journey through time illuminates the intricacies and milestones of a railway system that has left an indelible mark on the United Kingdom's transportation history. If you enjoy RE videos, we invite you to support us by clicking the JOIN button or becoming our patron. By doing so, you'll contribute to producing more informative and captivating railway videos like this. Thank you for watching Railways Explained, and we look forward to your continued support! Share your thoughts with us in the comment section!

Hello Railways Explained community! We've got some major news in the world of railways, especially for those following the High Speed 2 Mega-Project, or #HS2. As many of you know, HS2 was set to revolutionize the UK's rail network with 530 km (330 miles) of high-speed rail network, connecting to the West Midlands, with additional extensions planned to reach Crewe, Manchester, and Leeds in the North. We've got a comprehensive video on our channel breaking down the entire history of HS2 – it's a must-watch if you want to delve deep into the details. From its cost estimate of around £100 billion to significant delays and cost overruns, the HS2 project has faced its fair share of challenges. Now, fast forward to today, where the spotlight is on #UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. In an effort to save a £36 billion, Sunak has made the bold decision to cut the Birmingham-to-Manchester high-speed line from the HS2 project. That's a considerable sum, and it's destined for reinvestment in other projects across the country. We must compare this action with the historic "Beeching Axe" or "Beeching Cuts" of the 1960s, where Richard Beeching's proposals reshaped the UK rail network. But this time, it's the "Sunak Cuts" or "Sunak Axe" that's making headlines. This decision is seismic. It's changing the core vision of HS2 and raising questions about its future. Will it still deliver the transformative benefits it once promised, or are we witnessing the reshaping of HS2 into something entirely different? So, dear viewers, the big question is: Would you like to see an HS2 Project Update video on our channel? We're talking about covering the latest developments, dissecting the status of the project itself, and of course, sharing our thoughts and insights on this monumental project. Drop your thoughts in the comments section below! We want to hear your opinions, questions, and ideas. The HS2 saga continues, and we're here to keep you informed every step of the way. #HS2 #HighSpeed2 #UK #RishiSunak

We want to mark a significant occasion for our channel, as we hit 100,000 subscribers! To commemorate this joint accomplishment that we all achieved in only three years, we decided to do something special and symbolic. Namely, we prepared a trilogy of videos dedicated to the evolution of railways in their birthplace, Great Britain. This story will be presented in three videos, each for a distinct railway period, and it will include many details about railway’s origins and development, and how it went through nationalization, privatization, and finally, renationalization in the Great Britain. In this introductory video, we tried to briefly cover an era that spanned roughly a century, from the introduction of railways to the end of World War II. It includes a story of how railway transport was borne, what needs and technical inventions preceded it, what were the first lines and locomotives, and what roles early railway took in the society. Also we explained why and how railway experienced the periods of exponential growths (railway manias), how we came from 120 railway companies to 'the Big Four', all the way to the full nationalization and centralization during the WW2, which, due to the practical reasons, paved the way for the creation - of the British railways. If you enjoy RE videos, we invite you to become our patron and support our work. By doing so, you'll contribute to producing more informative and captivating videos like this. Thank you for watching Railways Explained, and we look forward to your continued support! Share your thoughts with us in the comment section!

Hey there, Railways Explained community! Today, we have some exciting news to share with you. At Railways Explained, we're always on the lookout for the latest and most innovative developments in the world of rail transportation, and right now, we've got our eyes on something truly remarkable: the Chuo Shinkansen maglev project currently underway in Japan. Also, we wanted to take a moment to revisit one of our earlier videos. Two years ago, we released a video that delved into the incredible world of maglev technology and how it's being utilized for commercial purposes. Now, here's where you come in! We value your input, and we want to know what you'd like to see next on our channel. Would you be interested in a dedicated video about the Chuo Shinkansen project? So, drop us a comment below and let us know your thoughts! Do you want to see more about the Chuo Shinkansen? Or is there another rail-related topic you're dying to explore with us? Your feedback is incredibly valuable to us, and we can't wait to hear from you. https://lnkd.in/eMF6cg8z

In the latest RE video, we embarked on a journey to Mexico, to explore the captivating story of the so-called Mayan Train mega-project which is currently underway on the Yucatan Peninsula. Stretching across an impressive 1,525 km of new railway lines, this ambitious infrastructure endeavour aims to boost tourism and foster economic development in the historically disadvantaged Yucatán region of Mexico. However, as with any mega-project of this scale, the Mayan Train has not been without controversy. Its construction has sparked significant environmental concerns, relating to questions about its significant impact on the delicate ecosystem. Despite these valid concerns and criticisms, the Mexican federal government has forged ahead with the project, deeming it a top-priority and with considerable social importance. By the end of 2023, the Maya Train is expected to be operational, pushing forward despite all the environmental challenges and opposition. In this video, we tried to present the captivating story of this project, including its objectives, implications, as well as broader context. PS. this video marks a major milestone for our channel as we reached 100,000 subscribers! We are more than determined to continue with our initial mission, and that is to bring all of you closer to technical, operational, economic, geopolitical, and many other aspects of railways of the world! Thank you for watching Railways Explained, and we look forward to your continued support! https://lnkd.in/eanHxy5b