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Infrastory

@infrastory.bsky.social

207 followers 2 following 22 posts

infrastory.substack.com

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Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Standardization: an underappreciated part of so much of the economy and much more. Read the latest Infrastory: infrastory.substack.com/p/the-standa...

infrastory.substack.com

The Standardization Revolution

Making the plugs plugs, and the elevators lift.

Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The latest Infrastory: transit maps and the lies they tell. Read now: infrastory.substack.com/p/the-real-t...

infrastory.substack.com

The Real Transit Map

Just because a route is on the map doesn’t mean that it’s useful.

Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Endless arguments ensue about how many stops high speed trains should have but this is the wrong question; the right question is what the different service patterns look like. You can always have an Express. Read the latest Infrastory: infrastory.substack.com/p/the-myth-o...

infrastory.substack.com

The Myth of Non-Stop High-Speed Rail

High speed doesn’t have to mean non-stop.

Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Our latest post on Infrastory, on myths of the Toronto transit system. infrastory.substack.com/p/a-lot-of-c...

infrastory.substack.com

A Lot of Conventional Wisdom about Toronto Transit is Wrong

A quick fact check on many of the ideas that have floated around for years.

Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Freight rail and passenger rail need different things to succeed, our latest post talks about this dynamic, and the under-appreciated success of freight rail in North America. infrastory.substack.com/p/freight-an...

infrastory.substack.com

Freight and Passenger Rail Have Different Needs

We need a better way.

Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

If you thought infrastructure procurement had problems, defense procurement is a whole other animal. Read the latest Infrastory now: open.substack.com/pub/infrasto...

open.substack.com

The Greatest Procurement Fiascos of All

If you think infrastructure has troubles, take a look at the military.

Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Back in the 20th century, the future of aviation looked like it would be supersonic. In a few places, this led to airport infrastructure that boggles the mind. Read the latest Infrastory now: open.substack.com/pub/infrasto...

open.substack.com

Airports for the Supersonic Age

Infrastructure of an era that never happened

Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

The US Interstates have a storied past, but what can’t be denied is their absolutely transformational impact on the entire North American economy. Read the latest Infrastory now: open.substack.com/pub/infrasto...

open.substack.com

How the Interstates Remade the American Map

Universal Access to Infrastructure Can Profoundly Reshape Development

Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

While France was building high-speed rail, America was learning dysfunction. Read the latest Infrastory now. open.substack.com/pub/infrasto...

open.substack.com

The Northeast Corridor's Three-Headed Monster

How to Spend Two Billion Dollars Without a Plan

Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

The solution to Los Angeles’ bad transit ridership? It might just be more buses. Read the latest Infrastory now: open.substack.com/pub/infrasto...

open.substack.com

Los Angeles could do with more buses

Bringing the Toronto Model to LA would be a gamechanger

Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Canada has recently been reconstructing nuclear reactors quite affordably. This raises the question - how? And what might this enable? open.substack.com/pub/infrasto...

open.substack.com

Canada Learned How To Be Good at Nuclear.

To get better at infrastructure, we must be willing to learn.

Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Ever wondered whats in the other half of the plane beneath the floor? Your travel companion and benefactor might be iPhones or Cod. open.substack.com/pub/infrasto...

open.substack.com

Going on Vacation to Peru? Thank Asparagus

There's a lot going on in the belly of a passenger plane

Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Since the Big Dig, North American cities have abandoned the idea of grand infrastructure endeavours. In today's blog, we talk about one such endeavour that was once considered for Toronto — burying the Union Station rail corridor. open.substack.com/pub/infrasto...

open.substack.com

There Was Once a Scheme to Bury Toronto's Railway Tracks

There are pretty unexpected things you can find on a trip to the archives

Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

The focus of this article is how a huge portion of global commerce moves, but people seldom recognize its significance, and like many other modes of transportation China is doing incredible things. Learn more about inland waterways now: open.substack.com/pub/infrasto...

open.substack.com

We Often Underestimate Inland Waterway Transport

The hidden backbone of global-continental commerce.

Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Megaprojects get an unreasonably bad rap, perhaps we just only remember the bad ones. Read the latest Infrastory now: open.substack.com/pub/infrasto...

open.substack.com

Megaprojects are inherently unsuccessful …

Because we don't remember them as megaprojects if they work

Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

The Paris RER is one of the greatest transit systems ever constructed but it wouldn't have happened if not for a junket to Japan. Read the latest Infrastory now: open.substack.com/pub/infrasto...

open.substack.com

Paris' RER Revolution

A city that solved its phone call problems the right way

Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

We naturally think of infrastructure as being solidly fixed and unchanging, but considering alternative histories allows us to consider the weight of our decisions today. infrastory.substack.com/p/new-yorks-...

infrastory.substack.com

New York's International Airport Should Have Been in Newark

Infrastructure planning based on arbitrary jurisdictional lines is never a good idea

Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Flying has never been better. It's a bold claim (but we really think so!) to bookend the launch of Infrastory, we've been so happy for the support and are excited to keep sharing! open.substack.com/pub/infrasto...

open.substack.com

We’re Living in the Golden Age of Air Travel

Well, if not quite golden, at least we can now afford to fly

Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Infrastory is back with more posts this week - today’s is about how Toronto completely inverts expectations of what is possible for transit in car-oriented areas. Much to learn here for cities in North America and across the world! open.substack.com/pub/infrasto...

open.substack.com

The Toronto Model for Transit

Induced demand is real for transit too

Reposted by Infrastory

Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

To finish off our first week, we have a post on one of the biggest problems facing modern infrastructure projects. open.substack.com/pub/infrasto...

open.substack.com

Engineering Problems and Phone Call Problems

Perhaps sometimes we really should just phone it in

Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

To finish off our first week, we have a post on one of the biggest problems facing modern infrastructure projects. open.substack.com/pub/infrasto...

open.substack.com

Engineering Problems and Phone Call Problems

Perhaps sometimes we really should just phone it in

Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Often times the world is transformed not by the public or private sector alone, but by a combination of private sector innovation and public sector market creation. Read the latest Infrastory post on microchips: open.substack.com/pub/infrasto...

open.substack.com

The Guaranteed Market: How a Weapon to Destroy the World Accidentally Led to the Digital World

(take from that what you will)

Reposted by Infrastory

Jonathan English @englishrail.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

I've decided to start writing a newsletter. Its name is Infrastory, which I've long thought captures what I focus on. It's a portmanteau of infrastructure and history, but it's also about telling the story beneath ("infra") the surface. You can find & subscribe at infrastory.substack.com

Reposted by Infrastory

Reece Martin @rmtransit.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

My good friend @englishrail.bsky.social has told me so many great stories about infrastructure over the years, really excited today that he's launched a blog (I'm helping out). First post is about how Canada became an enormous amount of the American oil market. open.substack.com/pub/infrasto...

open.substack.com

How Canada Quietly Took Over the American Oil Market

The unexpected creation of an oil Fortress North America

Infrastory @infrastory.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Infrastory is a blog covering the infrastructure that makes the world go around. Our first post is on how Canadian oil imports to the US turned the US into an export superpower - Read now! open.substack.com/pub/infrasto...