This winter Russia is targeting Ukrainian railcars – a vital transport in a country without air travel. Meet Oleh, who handles Russia’s strikes on trains, repairing them and preparing departures.
HISTORICAL TRIVIA: In the U.S.A. passenger rail service is disadvantaged compared to freight rail because with few exceptions the passenger trains run on tracks owned by freight rail. In World War One all railroads were nationalized (i.e. seized by the Federal government) to facilitate mobilization for war. After the war, the government de-nationalized the railroads, and the freight rail companies cleverly got all the tracks given back to them. As a result, freight traffic is prioritized over passenger traffic. Today, even with new Federal rules passed in 2020 intending to coerce freight companies to prioritize passenger trains more, fully 27% of passenger trains do not run on time (defined as within 15 minutes of schedule). For long-distance travel the percentage of “not on time” passenger trains increases to 47%.
Wow, that’s a really interesting point! It’s crazy to think how decisions from over a century ago are still shaping passenger trains today. Do you think things would be different if the tracks had been nationalized permanently? Or is the freight-focused system just too deeply built into how U.S. rail works now?
This is also a factor in Canada, with freight rail almost always having priority. There’s been some rumblings to start looking at high-speed rail in key geographies, though.
What a wonderful and inspiring post. Love Oleh’s “ Express of Hope.” Just so you know, I am an American. I deplore my government‘s betrayal of Ukraine. My fervent wish is that the EU recognizes what the US has tragically become, stands strong and independent, and that Trump, Putin et al get a grievous comeuppance they richly deserve. (perhaps an unbridled Epstein expose would be a start …) Slava Ukraini ❣️❣️❣️🇺🇦
Thank you for your passionate comment! You mentioned the Epstein files, what impact do you think such revelations could have on exposing corruption and holding powerful people accountable? Heroyam Slava! 💛💙
By the way I also wrote a chapter about Ukrzaliznitsya in a book called Untold Railway Stories - I’m always happy to share as much as I can about their reislience and determination during the full scale war!
Hello from Ukraine where I love Ukrzaliznitsya and their incredible staff. I travel by train across the country and always in awe of their courage and commitment to getting passengers to their destinations as safely as possible and on time.
Thank you so much for sharing this and for your support - it really means a lot. Even if reading is no longer easy, your engagement and encouragement still make a massive difference!Have you tried text-to-speech tools? You can have the text read aloud right from your device, it might help you enjoy the stories!
HISTORICAL TRIVIA: In the U.S.A. passenger rail service is disadvantaged compared to freight rail because with few exceptions the passenger trains run on tracks owned by freight rail. In World War One all railroads were nationalized (i.e. seized by the Federal government) to facilitate mobilization for war. After the war, the government de-nationalized the railroads, and the freight rail companies cleverly got all the tracks given back to them. As a result, freight traffic is prioritized over passenger traffic. Today, even with new Federal rules passed in 2020 intending to coerce freight companies to prioritize passenger trains more, fully 27% of passenger trains do not run on time (defined as within 15 minutes of schedule). For long-distance travel the percentage of “not on time” passenger trains increases to 47%.
Wow, that’s a really interesting point! It’s crazy to think how decisions from over a century ago are still shaping passenger trains today. Do you think things would be different if the tracks had been nationalized permanently? Or is the freight-focused system just too deeply built into how U.S. rail works now?
This is also a factor in Canada, with freight rail almost always having priority. There’s been some rumblings to start looking at high-speed rail in key geographies, though.
What a wonderful and inspiring post. Love Oleh’s “ Express of Hope.” Just so you know, I am an American. I deplore my government‘s betrayal of Ukraine. My fervent wish is that the EU recognizes what the US has tragically become, stands strong and independent, and that Trump, Putin et al get a grievous comeuppance they richly deserve. (perhaps an unbridled Epstein expose would be a start …) Slava Ukraini ❣️❣️❣️🇺🇦
Thank you for your passionate comment! You mentioned the Epstein files, what impact do you think such revelations could have on exposing corruption and holding powerful people accountable? Heroyam Slava! 💛💙
By the way I also wrote a chapter about Ukrzaliznitsya in a book called Untold Railway Stories - I’m always happy to share as much as I can about their reislience and determination during the full scale war!
Hello from Ukraine where I love Ukrzaliznitsya and their incredible staff. I travel by train across the country and always in awe of their courage and commitment to getting passengers to their destinations as safely as possible and on time.
I read New of the Day with bated breath every publication of the Counteroffensive.
I’d live to be able to read well, but progresduve macular degeneration destroys that skill at ‘83. No hope, but I support you as well as I can
Thank you so much for sharing this and for your support - it really means a lot. Even if reading is no longer easy, your engagement and encouragement still make a massive difference!Have you tried text-to-speech tools? You can have the text read aloud right from your device, it might help you enjoy the stories!