iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 37m

🇳🇱 Den Haag Centraal 🇳🇱 Leiden Centraal 🇳🇱 Alphen aan den Rijn 🇳🇱 Rotterdam Blaak 🇳🇱 Schiedam Centrum 🇳🇱 Delft Centrum 🇳🇱 Delft 🇳🇱 Rijswijk 🇳🇱 Den Haag Moerwijk All of the stations I ticked off today.

130 3

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 5h

I spent some time in Leiden today. Leiden is twinned with my home city of Oxford, and in the 80th year of this link I went to check out the commemorative stone outside the city hall.

A junction on the canal, between is a restaurant.

A stone commemorating the link between Oxford and Leiden, depicting an Ox and water.

060 6

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 8h

This is the best bus I've been on this week. On-time, comfy seats, route info displayed clearly and a friendly driver!

A green single decker bus on a tree-lined route on route to the Alpen aan den Rijn station.

Inside the bus facing forwards. There are comfy seats, USB A and USB C chargers, and a screen displaying route information.

160 6

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 8h

While Porsche has made EV models, they haven't been popular with their customers. They want to continue producing combustion engines for models like the 911, while the likes of the 718, Macan and Taycan will be exclusively electric.

010 1

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 8h

Many German manufacturers have either made a hash of their EV strategy or started too late. That's probably what this is about. Audi was planning a dual BEV-Hydrogen range a while ago but that's gone quiet. The Chinese makers, and others like Renault/Nissan and Tesla all got into EVs early on.

110 1

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 9h

I think there will still be some applications for combustion engines, but it's going to be small numbers. Electric is the way to go, both for efficiency and environmental reasons. The EU's incentives for smaller cars under 4.2M is also good.

150 5

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 9h

I wore Dutch orange for Zegerplas Parkrun this morning! It's a really nice run around the lake and back again, and it gets me a Z.

Selfie in front of the Zegerplas Parkrun sign. I'm wearing an orange Parkrun top.

Runners gathered at the start/finish line. There is a wooden arch over the finish line.

0140 14

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 16/10/2026

🇫🇷 Ivry-sur-Seine 🇳🇱 Den Haag HS Two station ticks today as I move from the French part of this trip to the Dutch part.

Ivry-sur-Seine station, which has two platforms with two fast tracks between.

Den Haag HS station, which has a large arched trainshed roof.

050 5

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 16/10/2026

From Brussels, I travelled on one of the NS ICNG trains up to Rotterdam. Due to trespassers on the line, it was late getting in. I somehow managed to make a 2 minute connection onto this Sprinter service to Den Haag.

A Dutch ICNG train arriving at Brussels Midi.

A Dutch Sprinter train arriving at Rotterdam Centraal.

0140 14

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 16/10/2026

I think it's been nearly three years since I last went on a red Eurostar, formerly-Thalys train. This one is taking me from Paris to Brussels this afternoon.

0120 12

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 16/10/2026

Parisian public transport just doesn't seem to work this morning. 😂 The bus was running late and didn't pick up at the stops. Then I got to the station to find there were no trains towards Paris, meaning I had to get another bus to another station. It's all fun and games!

The rear of a number 182 bus on a narrow street in Vitry-sur-Seine.

260 6

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

🇫🇷 Paris Austerlitz 🇫🇷 Villeneuve-le-Roi Two more stops ticked off on RER on my way back to base. My goodness, the stopping patterns on RER C are frustrating!

Paris Austerlitz station, in view are two of the RER subsurface platforms.

Villeneuve-le-Roi station, two platforms with two fast tracks through the middle.

080 8

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

🇫🇷 Viroflay Rive Gauche 🇫🇷 Chaville Rive Gauche 🇫🇷 Sèvres Rive Gauche 🇫🇷 Bellevue 🇫🇷 Meudon 🇫🇷 Clamart I ticked off six stations on Trensilien Line N this afternoon. Annoyingly, I had to miss out Vanves Malakoff as I ran out of time.

070 7

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

🇫🇷 Bièvres 🇫🇷 Igny 🇫🇷 Jouy-en-Josas 🇫🇷 Petit Jouy Les Loges 🇫🇷 Vauboyen That's all the intermediate stations on Transilien Line V ticked off. These were once part of RER C.

090 9

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

How is a game I have at home in a museum!?

100 1

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

I noticed this sign at Athis-Mons this morning. RER C doesn't operate directly to Versailles Chantiers via Juvisy anymore, so it's no good trying to catch a train there from platform 1.

A sign in the station subway. It directs people for trais to Paris, Versailles Rive Gauche, St Quentin en Yvelines and Portoise over platform 2, and passengers for Bretigny, St-Martin d'Etampes, Dourdain and Versailles Chantiers to platform 1.

050 5

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

There are validators on the platform.

000 0

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

T12 tram line ends at Massy-Palaiseau, and the section of the old RER C that continued to Versailles is now Trensilien Line V.

An RER C train at Massy-Palaiseau, operating a Trensilien Line V service to Versailles Chantiers.

190 9

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

This is Petit Vaux tram stop on line T12. Until December 2023, it was part of RER C which had a branch from Savigny-sur-Orge to Versailles Chantiers via Massy-Palaiseau. The former RER platforms still exist, but a new tram stop has been built adjacent to the old station.

080 8

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

Whenever I see Union or St George flags draped carelessly from houses, it's time to play a little game of 'sports fan or racist'.

030 3

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

Opening in December 2023, the T12 tram-train line replaced part of RER C, and created a new link through to Évry-Courcouronnes. The tram stop at Épinay-sur-Orge is just a short walk from the railway station. Being on an old railway line, trams run on the left.

A temporary sign tied to a sign post directing pedestrians to the T12 tram stop along a footpath.

The platforms at Épinay-sur-Orge tram stop, facing towards Massy. There is grass on the tracks, and there are three platforms.

The tram line facing towards Évry-Courcouronnes. Therr is grass on the tracks before it crosses a road, then it goes under a bridge below the main railway line.

A T12 tram arriving at Épinay-sur-Orge stop.

0140 14

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

🇫🇷 Athis-Mons 🇫🇷 Ablon 🇫🇷 Épinay-sur-Orge I ticked off three stations on RER C this morning on my way to where I'm going. The stopping pattern of trains on this bit of the network is a bit annoying, requiring a few changes. Not a problem for station tickers!

Athis-Mons station, two platforms with two fast tracks through the middle. It's a foggy morning and an RER C train is arriving.

Ablon station, two platforms with two fast tracks through the middle.

Épinay-sur-Orge station, two platforms with two fast tracks through the middle.

060 6

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

They have been for a while. They're just more honest about it now.

110 1

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

An accessibility issue I encountered outside Les Baconnets station yesterday. There's a temporary path outside the station, and while it is step free, it's narrow. Almost too narrow for people on foot to pass. So what happens when two wheelchair users or parents with pushchairs meet in the middle?

A narrow footpath between two concrete barriers.

040 4

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

🇫🇷 Saint-Michel Notre Dame 🇫🇷 Maisons-Alfort - Alfortville 🇫🇷 Le Vert de Maisons 🇫🇷 Créteil Pompadour 🇫🇷 Villeneuve Triage Five more stations across RER C and D that I ticked off this afternoon.

060 6

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

It looks like Citroen have bought up all the advertising space at Porte de Versailles.

Porte de Versailles sign next to the track, with Citroen 2CV adverts on every space opposite the platform.

Citroen 2CV advers next to the track at an underground station.

Citroen 2CV adverse in the corridor of an underground metro station.

Citroen 2CV adverts in the corridor of an underground metro station.

1141 14

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

Whatever this is, it's clearly intended to look like an original Routemaster bus?

An orange double decker bus that vaguely resembles a Routemaster.

An orange double decker bus that vaguely resembles a Routemaster. From this side, the 'bonnet' next to the cab is visible.

2101 10

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

The new Citroen 2CV on display at the Paris Motor Show. Fully electric and expected to be one of the cheapest EVs when it goes on sale.

Red Citroen 2CV elextric concept - rear.

2151 15

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

🇫🇷 Massy-Verrières 🇫🇷 Antony 🇫🇷 Chemin d'Antony The final three from today. That means I've not ticked off also all of RER B south of the river. I then walked between Antony and Chemin d'Antony and that completed the Massy branch of RER C.

Massy-Verrières station, which has 4 platforms.

Antony station, which is partly in the open and partly underground.

Chemin d'Antony, a two platform station onna curve.

180 8

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

I found another set of buffers at La Croix de Berny. Again, these are slightly wider than standard gauge.

White metal buffer stops attached to tracks that are wider than the normal track gauge, placed on the end of a siding. The buffer stop is not connected to the running rails.

140 4

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

🇫🇷 Parc de Sceaux 🇫🇷 La Croix de Berny 🇫🇷 Les Baconnets 🇫🇷 Fontaine-Michalon Four more station ticks, including some that a few trains on RER B skip. These are in the more affluent suburbs of Paris.

Parc de Sceaux station. It has concrete canopies painted white.

La Croix de Berny station. It has long canopies down both platforms.

Les Baconnets station. Two platforms, with a large station building over the tracks at the far end.

Fontaine-Michalon station, two curved platforms with concrete canopies.

1120 12

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

🇫🇷 Courcelle-sur-Yvette 🇫🇷 Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse The final two stops at the bottom of RER B. Stepping out of Saint-Rémy station, suburbia seems to abruptly end and there is countryside beyond the station.

Courcelle-sur-Yvette station, 2 platforms on a curve surrounded by trees.

Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse station, a terminus station with three platforms. Looking from the far end of platforms 1 and 2 towards the buffer stops. There are carriage sidings the left.

Countryside seen from outside Saint-Rèmy station

190 9

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

🇫🇷 Gif-sur-Yvette Pronounced the same as the cleaning product now known as Cif. There are a curious set of buffers on an isolated section of track, which appears to be wider than standard gauge. I know France previously had alightly wider track gauges, maybe this is original?

A two platform station with an old station building over the other side.

A set of buffers on a short section of isolated track disconnected from the network. The track gauge appears slightly wider than the standard 4'8½".

2121 12

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

🇫🇷 Bures-sur-Yvette 🇫🇷 La Hacquinière Another pair of stations on the RER B line, including the first of the 'Yvettes'.

Bures-sur-Yvette, a tow platform station on a curve.

060 6

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

🇫🇷 Orsay-Ville There is some evidence of infrastructure renewals here, with a shiny new signal gantry and electrification masts.

A three platform station, with an RER train in the furthest platform.

070 7

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

🇫🇷 Le Guichet This station is situated on a bridge over a dual carriagway. Looking down onto the road from the platform, it kind of reminds me of the A40 somewhere around Abergavenny?

Looking down from a bridge onto a dual carriageway, which is in a cutting and surrounded by trees.

061 6

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

The queues from Frideswide Square tend to go most of the way up Botley Road, at least to Seacourt. I've taken about 25 minutes to get from George Street to the station at peak time, and I know colleagues who have taken nearly an hour to do the same.

100 1

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

These two are a big problem for bus operations. It's hardly an incentive to use public transport if it's crawling along slower than walking pace.

A map of Oxford, with congestion around Oxford station and the top of Banbury Road between Summertown and Cutteslowe circled.

210 2

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

🇫🇷 Lozère Extra points for a French station with a charming old station building! I like the way the look.

A two platform station, with an old station building on the other side.

080 8

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

🇫🇷 Palaiseau-Villebon Stations are still called 'Palaiseau'. 🤣

060 6

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

The ratio of vegetation to concrete is also improving!

010 1

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

🇫🇷 Palaiseau Starting to head further away from Paris now along RER B, and the stations are starting to get nicer.

A two platform suburban station with some greenery around.

190 9

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

47237 lasted a long time. It transferred up from Oxfordshire around 10 years ago. Driven it many times on routes out of Witney.

010 1

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

🇫🇷 Massy - Palaiseau This is sort of two stations joined together to make one. On one side, you have the RER C, Trensilien Line V and the T12 Tram-Train. Over the bridge, you can find the platforms for RER B and TGV.

Three platforms of a four platform part of the station under a large bridge.

1100 10

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

🇫🇷 Rungis La Fraternelle I just missed a connection from the tram to the train here, and this part of RER C is every 30 minutes.

070 7

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

The Line 14 Metro extension to Orly opened in 2024. I rode one stop up to Chevilly-Larue, where I changed onto the T7 tram.

Metro platforms at Thiais-Orly, with platform edge doors.

Escalator up from the platform at Chevilly-Larue Metro station.

A T7 tram rounding the curve into Chevilly-Larue stop.

0110 11

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

🇫🇷 Pont de Rungis Aeroport d'Orly This is the closest station on RER C to Orly Airport. From here, a short bus or metro ride gets passengers to the airport.

080 8

Robert Knight @rupertairbear.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

🇫🇷 Orly-Ville There were no stations signs on the platforms, so you'll have to believe me! Maybe they'll put the signs up when they've finished the rebuilding work?

A station with three platforms, there is building work on the platform to the left. The platforms over to the right have been newly rebuilt.

0110 11