iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Electoral reform, Brexit in the bin - I can’t quite believe what I heard this afternoon. Gobsmacked.

Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

“Brexit has been a misadventure – a dead horse that can no longer be flogged or carried. It's time to bury it as a cautionary tale and get back to where we belong."

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Never thought I'd see the day that Canada got closer to the EU before Britain did. 'Associate membership' may well be the right path back into Europe for Britain - if we can't rejoin (yet), we should follow the Canadian example, and quickly!

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Absolutely incredibly surreal to see the network map I designed for Northern immortalised in the excellent new book from @markonthemaps.bsky.social and @mrmappy.bsky.social!

Mapping Britain’s Railways by Mark Ovenden ans Andrew Smithers

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Whilst I'm not generally in favour of hitting people in the pockets, I don't fall out with this idea. Tourist taxes are commonplace all over Europe and the US, and are usually only a few extra euros/dollars. If they allow our regions to invest in services like transport, I'm in favour.

bbc.co.uk

England's mayors to get power to impose tourist tax

Hospitality leaders warn the uncapped levy would risk jobs and push prices up for families holidaying in England.

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The Beauty of Transport @thebeautyoftransport.com · 08/09/2026

I think @markonthemaps.bsky.social and @mrmappy.bsky.social talking about their new book sounds splendid. Unfortunately it's rather difficult for me to pop down from Orkney, so how about you go, then post about it and make me jealous? 18 November, 7:00pm-8:30pm www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mapping-br...

eventbrite.co.uk

Mapping Britain's Railways with Mark Ovenden and Andrew Smithers

This is a Stanfords, London event

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Daniel Moser @dmoser.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Pollution levels in London after 10 years of advancing sustainable transport.

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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 01/09/2026

In his first speech at the despatch box, Andy Burnham says Brexit compounded the UK’s economic damage "and ushered in a decade of slow growth and stalled regeneration”. Now if he really wants growth in every postcode, the £92bn on the table from EU membership offers no better opportunity.

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Absolutely hard agree with this. You know you're somewhere pretentious when you see prices without zeros

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Back from a week in Devon with the family. A relatively new phenomenon at seaside resorts are these AI slop posters on the doorsteps of EVERY pub and restaurant. It's so bad, we actively avoided eating anywhere that used AI slop boards, only eating at places which hadn't lowered themselves to this.

AI slop poster for a restaurant in Brixham

Another rancid AI slop poster for another restaurant in Brixham

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Jezza @bonsvoeux1.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Full marks to the city of Lyon for not allowing a 17.6% gradient to get in the way of building a metro line up to Croix-Rousse. This is a downhill train arriving at Croix-Paquet station:

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Reposted by Matt Harrison

Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 24/07/2026

I'm a firm believer that if your "straightforward", "simple" street layout requires a 1 minute instructional video to try and explain what the ambiguous signs and all that paint on the road wants you to do, it's not nearly as straightforward and simple as you imagine it is.

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

The fact that a man with a bin on his head vs Farage has garnered more media attention than a by-election for the second highest-profile political job in the land personifies exactly what Burnham has been saying for years.

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Selfie with the recently-uncovered Network Northwest sign at Deansgate, in pristine condition! It won’t be here much longer, though…

Original 1989 Deansgate station sign with GMPTE ‘M-blem’ and Network Northwest branding

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Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Corrupt, embarrassing, an utter failure: Trump's catastrophic handling of America's 250th anniversary iandunt.substack.com/p/ice-ice-ba...

iandunt.substack.com

Ice, Ice Baby: America's national decline

The 250th anniversary is corrupt, embarrassing and an utter failure. It's the perfect encapsulation of Trump's US.

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Issue 57 of @themodernist.bsky.social ‘Public’ arrived yesterday, and it is quite simply, sublime. Well worth a tenner of anybody’s hard earned cash: the-modernist.org

Cover of issue 57 of The Modernist, featuring an orange and brown patten and a hand drawn building

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Reposted by Matt Harrison

Jo Kibble (Political Animal) @politicanimal.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Should have got a retired signaller on to debate the pros and cons of letting the London Northwestern semi-fast from Crewe out in front of Burnham's train at Rugby, thus compounding the Pendolino's delay. (This is why I'm not a broadcast news producer.)

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

🌹 King of the North! Huge congratulations to @andyburnham.bsky.social! Makerfield chose hope over hate, and I have a feeling the whole country will soon be better off for their choice. 👏👏 PS - now is a great time to read ‘Head North’ by Andy and Steve Rotheram, if you haven’t already…

Andy Burnham has been elected Labour MP for Makerfield

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Lots of reaction to my earlier post. I was allowed to take pictures of buses and share them online as a teenager. I wasn't legally allowed to smoke a ciggie or drink a cheeky can of Boddingtons, but I still found ways to acquire them anyway. I'm sure I'd have found a way to post pictures too.

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Banning under-16s from social media will lead to a whole world of unintended consequences. Speaking from my own experience: taking pictures of buses is not a 'cool' activity, especially as a youngster. You're even less likely to find somebody in your immediate peer group who shares those interests.

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

🇵🇱 European transport-y peeps: any suggestions for train/tram/bus ‘must see or do’ activities for Gdansk and Warsaw? I’m looking at you, @seatsixtyone.bsky.social @jonworth.eu and others… 😊🙏

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European News @eunews.social · 07/06/2026

Speaking in Madrid yesterday, Pope Leo XIV stated: "I encourage you to nurture the process of the European Union, which is not merely a counterweight to other powers, but a gift to humanity."

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

I travel by train across all parts of the north most days, and this is absolutely my experience.

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

🌞 Good morning from one of Britain’s prettiest rail stations. I’ll never get tired of travelling from Hebden Bridge.

A pair of Northern Class 158s sit in the early morning sun at Hebden Bridge station, where a canopy overhangs the platform and old-style signage can be seen

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

It’s a garden at a railway station - but which station?

A selection of plants and sculptures underneath a large round glass window

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Transport Designed @transportdesigned.com · 03/04/2026

Most transport maps show you where things go. This one was designed to change a habit. See more about our work for Northumberland County Council: transportdesigned.com/work/ncc-int...

Integrated travel map showing bus routes in Bedlington linking to the station

A poster headlined 'Leave the car at home' on a green background showing an integrated travel map on the platform at Bedlington station

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Absolutely delighted that Mini Switzerland has received backing from Government, less than 12 months since the project kicked off. It's now a funded project that will become the national demonstrator of Swiss-style transport integration.

bbc.co.uk

'Mini Switzerland' Peak District transport plan gets green light

Campaigners say it could be the

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

🐶 'Who let the dogs on?' The final station opens on the Northumberland Line line this weekend, and on Monday, Northern are giving away free travel to the first 25 people to turn up with Bedlington Terriers! www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/news/people/...

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Celebrity guest star for my train to work this morning

A class 158 train in a special two tone blue version of the Northern livery to promote the Northumberland Line

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Our beautiful Settle & Carlisle line is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year! We're expecting to carry record-breaking numbers of customers over the line to enjoy those breathaking views. Cracking coverage on the Beeb 👇

bbc.co.uk

Carlisle to Settle train line expects record passengers for 150th anniversary

The line celebrates 150 years since passenger trains started along the 72-mile (116km) scenic route.

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

This is an absolutely bonkers story for so many reasons. Absolutely nobody is buying the excuse that the company requires its staff to own a car under 10 years old for 'their safety'. And what about public transport users? Cyclists? Can they apply for jobs here? Shame on you, Haart.

bbc.co.uk

Woman, 18, not shortlisted for job at estate agents as 'car is too old'

Alanah Thomspon French says her application was not progressed as her car was more than 10 years old.

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

So, who's at Interchange tomorrow? ☕️

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

This article sums up the precise reasons we need Proportional Representation, now. The duopoly might be on the way out, but stepping into the void is a toxic, divisive politics where most of the votes cast are wasted, and people are forced to vote tactically to stave off the worst-case scenario.

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

I won't comment on the by-election result, other than to say: the Conservative party, as an entity, is completely and utterly done for. But Tories aren't. They're just wearing a different-coloured mask.

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Just over 10 years ago, the Elizabeth line was named in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Visiting London over half term, I was astonished to see the impact it has had on getting around the city since opening fully in 2023.

open.substack.com

How do you get from Custom House to Tottenham Court Road in 20 minutes?

The Elizabeth line has transformed how we get around London. Here's how it helped make half term accessible for one typical Northern family

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

A spot of DLR-hopping this evening…

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Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 15/02/2026

Fantastic to see my Mini Switzerland idea covered by the BBC. It captures so many people’s imaginations because it’s both obvious, simple and yet - from where we are today - unspeakably radical. Please share! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

'Mini Switzerland' plan for Peak District transport network

The idea would see buses arriving before trains pull into stations to improve connectivity.

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Absolutely stunned that I've only just found out that Burnage is part of the Gorton & Denton constituency. I grew up around the corner from the Gallaghers - yet I most 'definitely maybe' do not identify as being a child of Gorton, or indeed Denton, which might as well be on a different planet.

Screenshot of the Gorton & Denton constituency boundary on a map

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Heard about this earlier on the Today programme - fantastic news!

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

All the years I’ve been using Hebden Bridge station, and it’s the first time I’ve spotted this old throwback!

Private property sign from British Railways days

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Update: tickets are now completely SOLD OUT!

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Only around 30 tickets remain - they're selling fast!

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Matt Harrison @mattpharrison.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

🚨 BREAKING: Northern will run a train over a heritage line for the first time EVER on Sunday 22 Feb, and tickets are now on sale. A class 158 will depart Darlington at 0946 for Bishop Auckland, where it will join the Weardale Railway and run over the full length of the line to Stanhope and return.

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