Friday Reads – 14 August 2020

Let’s not let COVID ruin the joys of train travel (Guardian)

American SUVs not allowed in Britain (PriceTags)

Crossrail’s multiple signalling systems challenge (RailEngineer)

St Albans ends fight against rail freight depot on ex-Radlett Aerodrome (RailBusinessD)

Buffer fans rejoice! Ipswich buffer testing – in Argentina (HydeParkNow)

San Diego’s ‘Smart’ traffic streetlights used for protest surveillance (CityLab)

What happens to viruses on NYC Subway cars (NYTimes)

Check out our new section:

As well as some of our other sections:

And some of our most popular articles: 

Feel we should read something or include in a future list? Email us at [email protected].

Comments may be monitored for quality and training purposes

Reconnections is funded largely by its community. Like what we do? Buy us a cup of coffee or visit our shop.

2 comments

  1. The NY Times account of the MTA study is most welcome and should be required reading really for all denizens of metro -furnished metropolises.

    Perhaps (I can’t believe that I’m saying this) it could be put through an ad department to ‘spin’ it into more concise, more instantly edible fare. The hoped-for result being less irrational fear of the tube and therefore more use of it allowing London, say, to get back on both feet safely and gainfully.

    At the least it would be helpful to know the relevant figures from TfL et al regarding types of filter, rates of recycling of the air and how often it’s flushed through completely, for instance. Seek and ye shall find ~ better go and have a trawl of the net I s’pose.

  2. I’ve not seen anything from TfL yet, but I came across this twitter thread by The Man In Seat 61 concerning Covid safety on UK trains: https://twitter.com/seatsixtyone/status/1291780173721997313 and as mentioned there the RSSB has been doing some research: https://www.rssb.co.uk/Insights-and-News/News/Innovative-data-methods-for-passenger-safety-during-the-Covid-19-outbreak

    According to that thread Eurostar have said the air on board is exchanged every 15 minutes, which is the same as an average office, but much less than an aircraft (around every 2 mins). That NYT article says the NY Subway figure is 3 mins 20 seconds. I feel there’s more work to be done concerning grading the risk from poor ventilation.

Comments are closed.