Search found 91 matches

by Smudgerii
22 Apr 2020, 8:25pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Blocked ears
Replies: 35
Views: 2570

Re: Blocked ears

Eh? What? Pardon?
by Smudgerii
10 Mar 2020, 7:37am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Petition : Call for 3 points + £100 fine for NOT using indicators when driving
Replies: 52
Views: 2939

Re: Petition : Call for 3 points + £100 fine for NOT using indicators when driving

Should the same punishment be metered out to cyclists who do not indicate? What about red light jumpers, should those cyclists be fined?

Careful what we wish for.....
by Smudgerii
7 Mar 2020, 9:13pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Reducing UK HGV miles for loads resistant to rail container traffic?
Replies: 64
Views: 3795

Re: Reducing UK HGV miles for loads resistant to rail container traffic?

Cyril Haearn wrote:
Smudgerii wrote:Has this thread de-railed

No, there are a lot of railway enthusiasts here

The Watercress Line has a rake of six Bullied carriages in service, much better than the BR Mark 2 vehicles used on certain preserved lines


Well ^ is a clear indication that the thread has...
by Smudgerii
6 Mar 2020, 8:36am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Best car to put a bike in?
Replies: 46
Views: 2852

Re: Best car to put a bike in?

Mitsubishi L200

Just throw the bike in the flat bed, then burn the Derv at 28mpg...
by Smudgerii
6 Mar 2020, 8:29am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Reducing UK HGV miles for loads resistant to rail container traffic?
Replies: 64
Views: 3795

Re: Reducing UK HGV miles for loads resistant to rail container traffic?

Cyril Haearn wrote:Simples, stop buying bottled water, drink tap water :wink:



Probably the most realistic suggestion on this thread... which means it will be ignored.

They would rather have ‘crack pot’ ideas that the country cannot achieve or afford.
by Smudgerii
2 Mar 2020, 7:41am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Reducing UK HGV miles for loads resistant to rail container traffic?
Replies: 64
Views: 3795

Re: Reducing UK HGV miles for loads resistant to rail container traffic?

imo an alternative to the vastly more damaging urban LGV journeys is the priority.

Alternatives to fossil fuels being the key to reducing the damage.
by Smudgerii
28 Feb 2020, 7:54pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Reducing UK HGV miles for loads resistant to rail container traffic?
Replies: 64
Views: 3795

Re: Reducing UK HGV miles for loads resistant to rail container traffic?

SA_SA_SA wrote:
Smudgerii wrote:....So the train stops at every junction to let off the HGV that needs that specific point. Could be problematic...

I never said it had to stop at every motorway junction, the stops would be a carefully chosen compromise just like any other railway...... :)


Ok, that clears that up...

Now how do you propose using the existing infrastructure as mentioned in the opening post? How do vehicles or trains exit the motorway / railroad without massive changes? Changes that will have significant impact on the environment, some of which may never be recovered from.

Imo the answer lies in the fuel source not the vehicle / carriageway, and a less consumer based lifestyle.
by Smudgerii
28 Feb 2020, 7:45pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Reducing UK HGV miles for loads resistant to rail container traffic?
Replies: 64
Views: 3795

Re: Reducing UK HGV miles for loads resistant to rail container traffic?

Mike Sales wrote:
Smudgerii wrote:

Or you could grow/catch/kill your own food to help reduce the emissions.... Do you?


Don't be silly, or do you genuinely imagine that the only alternative to a transport system making a huge contribution so several different environmental problems is a kitchen garden?



No I don’t, but it will have an impact and is as feasible as converting an existing motorway into a railway to reduce carbon emissions.

My own allotment saved circa £1200 in groceries last year ( and fed several families ), wish there was some way to calculate the carbon saving.

What single, achievable, action do you propose?
by Smudgerii
28 Feb 2020, 5:39pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Reducing UK HGV miles for loads resistant to rail container traffic?
Replies: 64
Views: 3795

Re: Reducing UK HGV miles for loads resistant to rail container traffic?

SA_SA_SA wrote:
Smudgerii wrote:The thing to remember is that everything we buy in the UK will have been moved by an HGV at some point in it’s journey within the UK.

With that in mind, how does the ‘railroad’ plan stack up?

I would like to point out the the OP suggestion was for a drive-on motor-rail system following(ie actually on) the routes of UK spine/spar motorways, so an easy win for companies already using HGVs:
drive HGV to start point 'station' on(adjacent to) motorway, load and either driver has a rest on train or only the trailer/trailer with empty cab is loaded (ie unattended) and another driver picks it up at other end then completes journey:

metal wheel on rail saves a lot of fuel over rubber wheel on tarmac/concrete:
according to rail issue 844 page 40, for every 35 miles an HGV can haul one tonne, a train can haul it 100miles for the same amount of energy....

You could still discourage HGVs compared to container rail freight a bit by making container freight cheaper than the above Motorail. (Containers could also be transported along the above on-motorway rail routes)

Alternatively, at the risk of sounding like the canal advocates in Ben Eltons Gridlock, you could always send HGVs by coastal ro-ro (mega ParaHandys) for non-perishables?


So the train stops at every junction to let off the HGV that needs that specific point. Could be problematic...
by Smudgerii
28 Feb 2020, 5:37pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Reducing UK HGV miles for loads resistant to rail container traffic?
Replies: 64
Views: 3795

Re: Reducing UK HGV miles for loads resistant to rail container traffic?

Mike Sales wrote:
Smudgerii wrote:Thats not how it works. The increased transport cost goes on the products retail price and the consumer pays. Only when the consumer ceases to purchase will change happen..


The idea is that those goods which have a higher transport component in their price will tend to cost more than locally produced goods which cause lower CO2 emissions. The consumer can then choose on price.
Isn't that how it works?



Or you could grow/catch/kill your own food to help reduce the emissions.... Do you?
by Smudgerii
28 Feb 2020, 5:35pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Reducing UK HGV miles for loads resistant to rail container traffic?
Replies: 64
Views: 3795

Re: Reducing UK HGV miles for loads resistant to rail container traffic?

Mike Sales wrote:
Smudgerii wrote:
Mike Sales wrote:
You assume that since that is the way we do things now, then it is the only possible way of doing things.
But it is generally agreed that our present course is leading to climate disaster, and we shall have to do things differently in future.
We have to put a value on the things we are now destroying. This will change the economic considerations.
Unless, of course, we lack the imagination to avert disaster.


Please don’t tell me what I assume, you’re not qualified to.

What we do now is not what have done in the past, it will likely not be what we do in the future.

My question remains, how does the ‘railroad’ stack up when you compare it against the needs?


I can see you need to be given more detail.
There are costs to emitting CO2 which are not fully paid, so that it appears more economic (in the short run) to favour higher emitting modes. When these costs are accounted for the modes of transport which do less damage to the atmosphere will be a logical choice for (for instance) moving goods.
Your assumption, I'm sorry if I misunderstood, is that the present framework within which transport choices are made is immutable. If you understood that we can change this framework to produce less destructive results perhaps I have given you a hint as to how we can change.
There are other ways in which we are doing unsustainable damage to our environment, mass extinctions being one. If we cannot change the way we collectively make decisions then the race's future will be ended.


There you go again with assumptions.... don’t assume on my behalf.

Maybe answer my question, how does the ‘railroad’ stack up? How is powered? Is there no environmental impact, is it feasible?

Change is needed, but the change has to be the right one, and so far you offer nothing.
by Smudgerii
28 Feb 2020, 2:01pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Reducing UK HGV miles for loads resistant to rail container traffic?
Replies: 64
Views: 3795

Re: Reducing UK HGV miles for loads resistant to rail container traffic?

Pete Owens wrote:
fullupandslowingdown wrote:Thing is that the bean counters don't look at the big picture. Not only is the warehousing space a consideration to them, but also the inventory cost of spare goods.


Of course that is the case - that is after all the fundamental principle around which market economics works.

However, it also means the solution is simple. We don't have to think of detailed ways for shifting goods around that may or may not be practical for particular companies and may or may not lead to the desired outcome. If we want to discourage a particular activity then increase the price of it - that way bean counters will seek ways to avoid it.

So in this case the way forward is road pricing. Increase the cost of moving stuff long distances by truck then other options will start to become competitive - whether that is sourcing stuff locally, greater warehousing, shifting most of the trip to rail or moving your operation to a rail freight hub. All these things cost money, but if shifting stuff by road costs more that will be worth their while.


Thats not how it works. The increased transport cost goes on the products retail price and the consumer pays. Only when the consumer ceases to purchase will change happen..
by Smudgerii
28 Feb 2020, 1:57pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Reducing UK HGV miles for loads resistant to rail container traffic?
Replies: 64
Views: 3795

Re: Reducing UK HGV miles for loads resistant to rail container traffic?

Mike Sales wrote:
Smudgerii wrote:The thing to remember is that everything we buy in the UK will have been moved by an HGV at some point in it’s journey within the UK.

With that in mind, how does the ‘railroad’ plan stack up?


You assume that since that is the way we do things now, then it is the only possible way of doing things.
But it is generally agreed that our present course is leading to climate disaster, and we shall have to do things differently in future.
We have to put a value on the things we are now destroying. This will change the economic considerations.
Unless, of course, we lack the imagination to avert disaster.


Please don’t tell me what I assume, you’re not qualified to.

What we do now is not what have done in the past, it will likely not be what we do in the future.

My question remains, how does the ‘railroad’ stack up when you compare it against the needs?
by Smudgerii
27 Feb 2020, 9:06pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Reducing UK HGV miles for loads resistant to rail container traffic?
Replies: 64
Views: 3795

Re: Reducing UK HGV miles for loads resistant to rail container traffic?

The thing to remember is that everything we buy in the UK will have been moved by an HGV at some point in it’s journey within the UK.

With that in mind, how does the ‘railroad’ plan stack up?