Petrichor ᚄᚔᚅᚐᚁᚆᚃᚒᚔᚂExtraordinary that there's virtually no coverage in western media of China's extraordinary expansion of its railway network, and no questions about why we can't or don't do the same
#Railway #China #Europe #US
#Railway #China #Europe #US
Karl Stanley@sinabhfuil I’m not trying to be smart here, I am saying this based on my experience working as a city councillor. The problem is democracy (or at least our version of it). It’s far far easier to implement radical change when you a) don’t have to consult with groups who will be negatively affected by the change and b) don’t have to worry about getting re-elected.
Kevin Teljeur ❄️@karlstanley @sinabhfuil It’s worth noting that Ireland’s formerly extensive railway network was built when Ireland was… in the Empire. So consultation when building the network wasn’t much of an issue.
Leszek Ciesielski@kevinteljeur @karlstanley @sinabhfuil Except the routes were forced by the local English lords. Quite often built not where it made sense, but where it was esthetically pleasing to them. Check e.g. the Dublin and Kingstown Railway, having a legitimate claim to be the oldest passenger route in the world. A lot of it is built within the sea cliff so that that it wouldn't spoil Lord Cloncurry's view.
@skolima @karlstanley @sinabhfuil That line is a very interesting and good example. I grew up next to it. We take that line for granted now but it erased a long stretch of coastline across South Dublin and ploughed through a lot more - could you do that now?
@sinabhfuil @skolima @karlstanley But when they built it, wealth and power were concentrated on the North-central side of the city, if I’m not mistaken.
@kevinteljeur @skolima @karlstanley Yes, nobody bothered about those southside peasants then. It was only when "healthy air" became the fashion that the rich started building on the hillsides of the southside - Mount Tallant, Mount Drummond, Mount Jerome, etc. And in those days the stormy sea was a thing of horror. It was only in the Romantic Age that the sea became a romantic view and the rich built along the coast
@sinabhfuil @kevinteljeur @skolima this is why I love mastodon - I have accidentally learned something this morning. Thank you all!
@sinabhfuil @skolima @karlstanley Aside: Railways then were symbolic of Imperialist Capitalism - the arteries of capital, and not as an enabling social good. So tearing through a neighbourhood was only for the good of the few. I wonder if that coloured the view of the early Irish State in how it saw railways.
Also: I grew up in a small flat in one of the biggest terraced old houses in Monkstown/Seapoint overlooking the railway and coast.
@kevinteljeur @skolima @karlstanley Well, yes, what was that remark of Todd Andrews' about the Harcourt Line being unnecessary because it was only for Rathmines Protestants, or something like that!
@sinabhfuil @skolima @karlstanley Ouch! The ‘housekeeper’ used to refer to tenements if there was ever any trouble or mess. I didn’t get it then but later on I understood better (it wasn’t a tenement, but a blood relative of them, let’s say)
Siobhán McElduff@kevinteljeur @sinabhfuil @skolima @karlstanley I think it was more about saving money and the state seeing a modern nation as one of private vehicles myself. Plus control - very few women could drive for a v long time. I'd say there's a lot could be written about the Church raging about days out to towns being immoral and govt attitudes to public transport in Ireland.
@kevinteljeur @sinabhfuil @skolima @karlstanley I remember once reading some bishops screed from the 1940s on how railways brought in immoral literature to places.
@siobhanmcelduff @kevinteljeur @sinabhfuil @skolima I didn’t know that, but it doesn’t surprise me in the least. Astonishing that we let those headbangers run the place for so long.
@karlstanley @kevinteljeur @sinabhfuil @skolima once the Church enters its hard to get it to leave - our education system being a good example.
@kevinteljeur @sinabhfuil @skolima that’s right, the most exclusive addresses in Dublin were Buckingham St and environs, near where I live now. I believe the 2 best houses in Dublin were Leinster House and Aldborough House (Portland Row) which is now vacant.
@karlstanley @kevinteljeur @skolima Don't start me on the national shame that is the beautiful Aldborough House. Someone please squat it and bring in An Taisce and the Georgian Society to join you
@sinabhfuil @kevinteljeur @skolima 💯 I have genuine fears that it will mysteriously burn to the ground one day.