iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Visiting Vancouver at the moment. Transit fans have been excited recently by testing of the first Solaris trolleybus. Entry into passenger service is slightly delayed to late October. It has recently been put in an unusual wrap. Sorry the lighting didn’t favour good photos

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

2/ There were also many sieges during the Jacobite rebellion in 1745, mostly in Scotland but there was a siege of the English city of Carlisle too. I’m not aware of any sieges after that.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

While I accept the general point about England being relatively free of war, the decline of sieges did not come as early as 1600. The English Civil War in the 1640s had at least two major city sieges - of Oxford and of Chester as well as seiges of various castles. @chittimarco.bsky.social

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Medieval streets? Pah! We can do older than that. Many streets in the City of London follow alignments dating from Roman Londinium. Examples cited by AI are Gracechurch Street, Cannon Street and London Wall. And we all know that the Romans were rather good at building roads.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

As a Londoner who has used these services since the 1960s (sic), I really don’t see what is “ maddening”. It’s a suburban railway, not a metro. The various branches merge at Raynes Park and then provide a v frequent combined service to the centre. Why can’t a Crossrail service cope with branches?

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

I doubt the the 1993 Act is still in force. Normally this type of act will grant powers that have to be exercised within a certain time frame.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

One irritation is that some people have changed the famous intellectual “trolley problem” into the so called “trolleybus problem”. This is ridiculous as a trolleybus does not run on rails and would be able steer to avoid any innocent potential victims.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Around 2010, in peaceful times, the trolleybus fleets in both Russia and Ukraine were about 10,000 etbs each. Obviously there has been shrinkage since (eg Moscow closure) but Russia is producing 400 - 500 trolleybuses per year. Up until the war Ukraine was also renewing fleets with EBRD funding.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

I don’t know overall but in Prague more IMC trolleybuses are to be added by 2030 than BEBs. Equally Zūrich’s plans give a greater role to trolleybuses while BEBs are for subsidiary local distributor routes. First you you need to get over the mental block about trolleybuses, then you can go big.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Some EU countries have large subsidies for BEBs e.g. Germany. But these subsidies are being reduced so may have an impact on BEB market share.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Yes, it would be a two stage process: learning the language generally, then building up subject-specific vocabulary. As you say,time consuming. Regular reading of trade publications helps. As a teenager I got a monthly subscription to Der Stadtverkehr (City Transport) - v technical but fascinating.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

The “not invented here” syndrome lives on.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Quick update on our Leoncavallo thread. By a strange coincidence, Oper Graz is giving a few concert performances of his Boheme from late October, overlapping with the staged run in Turin. What was that old saying about London buses? oper-graz.buehnen-graz.com/produktion/l...

oper-graz.buehnen-graz.com

La Bohème | Oper Graz

La Bohème ✓Aufregende Choreografie ✓ Starbesetzung ✓ Mitreißende Musik ➤ Jetzt Tickets sichern!

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Many of Bologna’s tram routes were converted to trolleybus not to polluting diesel buses. Before anyone begins the polemics, trams and trolleybuses can co-exist, each with its own role, as can be seen in Swiss cities like Zürich.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

I haven’t done this for several years, and because of the issues we have discussed, I am not sure they are much use.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Oh and then there is the issue of EU grants. Some local newspapers may quote post subsidy cost, to reassure local taxpayers; others will do the exact opposite if the support the opposition party😂

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

While writing, be careful about consistency. One press article will quote net of VAT another with VAT, some will include supply of special training, tools , warranties etc. You’ll have to dig deep to get on a like for like basis

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Pricing sometimes seems to be based on how much the customer can afford. It’s a few years I was looking at IMC trolleybus costs but I recall noticing a disparity between some trolleybuses delivering in Western Europe and similar vehicles going to the Baltic states.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

It’s not a one sided issue. Yes it could be fun, like a theme park. But I also love cities for the sense of movement that comes with transit and removing the buses will leave a rather static feeling. It’s only going to be fun in the summer. But what about the rest of the year?

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Just looked at Konrad Dryden’s biography of Leoncavallo. It’s an operetta, it’s a satire, not some polemic. The female candidate has kept her status secret; the hero falls in love and only then do they reveal to each other that they are both candidates. Operetta- tunes, love, nothing serious.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Why do that when you can have buses taking passengers directly to their destinations? What is wrong with the current arrangements at the northern end of Granville? Pedestrians and buses cohabit safely. Even with bus lanes, Seymour and Howe are dismal corridors with few if any attractions.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

This seems very strange, as Leoncavallo was supposed to be an early socialist. And generally his heroines e.g. in Pagliacci, his La Boheme, Zazà and Zingari were all strong and independent minded women, more so than in Puccini. But by 1915 he was very hard up. I’ll check the biography of him.

e.in

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

I’m not sure you should extrapolate from an atypical event like a World Cup to make permanent and radical changes. I’m all for a *car free* Granville Street but I don’t agree with the idea of removing bus routes too. It will make choosing the bus less appealing: not what we should be doing.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

On a higher intellectual plane, those Germans.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Have a nice San Francisco trolley bus, then. Photo from Kiepe Electric (K P Canavan)

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Now that you mention it, a rule of thumb from Kiepe Electric is that BEBs need minimum 2x the installed power of the equivalent ETB fleet = Much higher capital cost. Also ETBs much gentler on the grid: smooth power draw across the day & across the city @coryw.bsky.social @christosilvia.bsky.social

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Reposted by @750v-dc.bsky.social

Maya🚂🚃🚄🚅🚆🚇🚈🚉🚊🚝🚞🚋🚌🚎 @trains.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

a study a couple years back estimated that if Muni were to replace its trolleys with BEBs it would need 50% more busses just to provide the same service/capacity. let alone the higher electricity and yard infrastructure needs IMC is just so insanely good climateandcommunity.org/wp-content/u...

climateandcommunity.org

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Just wait till Vancouver gets its new IMC trolleybus fleet.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Yes! I was a background figure in its origins and had some overview The consultancy team was led by Professor Andrés Díez and sponsor was @alxlndomountain.bsky.social

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Most bus electrification plans I’ve seen, consider the existing bus “blocks” to see if BEBs can meet the duty schedule. Depending on the city there’s usually a significant % of blocks where one BEB cannot replace one diesel or one trolleybus. Most cities need 120+ BEB for every 100 ETB or diesel.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

While some present problems can no doubt be solved over time, there is one fundamental problem with BEBs: low energy density, which is about 1% of diesel fuel. The issue is irrelevant for trolleybuses because they don’t need stored energy. 1/n

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

The footprint for overhead wires is negligible. The only space used is masts on the sidewalk but these usually act as lighting poles too. In Vancouver they realised that there was little space in downtown to set up charging stations whereas IMC trolleybuses just drew power from existing O/H wires.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Back in the day, trolleybuses (and trams/streetcars before them) were never intended for universal use, but for use on medium to heavy demand routes, where their “heavy lifting” characteristics were needed and the added capital cost could be amortised well.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

But we have to thank Alex for his initiative and innovation. I’m not aware of any other transit study of such substance that was funded by a trade union rather than a public authority or (in earlier days) a private company.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

The only networking I am interested in consists of copper wires! 😂

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

I was wondering about the post-Volpe era. For example, Zazà was a great success in 2017 and normally I would have expected it to have been revived by now, but no. The extensive verismo repertoire was a specialty of OHP and that seems to have been played down recently. Sad.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Ah, fond memories of the ENO's shoestring but excellent production. It's about time we had at least a summer festival type of production in the UK.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Here's a rarity for verismo lovers: a full production of Leoncavallo's Boheme in a major opera house. There are 6 performances in Oct-Nov 2026. Ironically, at Teatro Regio,Turin, birthplace of Puccini's opera. @operarara.bsky.social @ruthelleson.bsky.social t.co/6rPaK7t368

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Around France in eight days - J. Verne

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

The “not invented here” syndrome, I suspect. @ofsevit.bsky.social

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

There was a very vociferous councillor who argued that hybrid buses were just the thing for Edmonton. IIRC the mayor wanted to keep the trolleybuses but the loudmouth councillor prevailed. As far as I know few if any of the alleged benefits ever came to fruition.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Translink trolleybus overhead department would like a word with you. Jk

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Reposted by @750v-dc.bsky.social

Prague Daily News @praguedailynews.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

With an extensive programme, Prague is marking the introduction of trolleybus transport 90 years ago – while at the same time looking ahead to the future of emission-free mobility.

praguedaily.news

90 Years of Trolleybuses in Prague: Anniversary with an Eye on the Future

With an extensive programme, Prague is marking the introduction of trolleybus transport 90 years ago – while at the same time looking ahead to the future of.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

4/4 The next conversions are expected by the summer and will introduce new routes 51 (ex bus 132) and 53 (ex bus 176). Line diagrams attached.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

3/4 The hilly topography of the line is illustrated by this photo from Elektroline, the Czech manufacturer of overhead line equipment.

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

2/4 Here’s a map of the new route which is mostly wired (80%, shown in purple) with the rest run on batteries. Interestingly, this is a revival of a former trolleybus route after an interval of 56 years!

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750v-dc.bsky.social @750v-dc.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Next development of Prague’s second trolleybus system will be 3 hilly routes heading west of the Vltava river. Test running began on route 52 (ex bus 137) on 1st April. Illustrated is a Skoda 36 Tr TEMSA 📷Ústečák 1/4

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