2nd day at #ConnectingEuropeDays talking “urban nodes” (aka cities) and their connections to the EU Trans European Networks. It’s a jargon soup at the start.

“Every urban node needs a SUMP by 2027” (Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan) And These 431 nodes have to submit data. This largely makes sense, but the devil is going to be in the detail here. #ConnectingEuropeDays

Certain criteria that each urban node has a multimodal transport “hub” by 2030. Not the worst idea. Is the Commission going to check it happens? Each has to have a multimodal freight terminal too. #ConnectingEuropeDays

Want to know if your city is an urban node? Here’s the PDF list: https://transport.ec.europa.eu/document/download/40f52207-d2d1-4cbf-9392-b61f37309ee8_en?filename=52022PC0384-ANNEX-2.pdf #ConnectingEuropeDays

Catherine Trautmann is a very experienced politician, now a TEN-T coordinator. But she still reads a speech *on a panel*. A panel ought to be a conversation. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Trautmann?wprov=sfti1# #ConnectingEuropeDays

I thought the rail freight stuff was abstract yesterday. This TEN-T and urban nodes stuff today is worse. I’m totally lost. #ConnectingEuropeDays

We are proud to be an urban node, and won a prize for our urban mobility plan says Elke Van Den Brandt, Minister of Mobility and Public Works of Brussels. But can Brussels better join itself up with others? Like improving sustainable links to Germany for example?
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Give Elke Van Den Brandt her due: urban mobility in Brussels is massively improving. It’s so much better to cycle here than it used to be. #ConnectingEuropeDays

There must be some middle ground between broad brush political rhetoric and a soup of acronyms from officials. We’re definitely not finding it here though. #ConnectingEuropeDays

Some dude just tried to pitch hyperloop to me. “I don’t believe in hyperloop” I told him. I’m pretty sure I’m about the worst person he could have found. #ConnectingEuropeDays

Now SNCF Cécile Guilhaumaud is telling me passenger satisfaction is of central importance.

Through tickets are an advantage for passengers she says. Is she serious? SNCF is *terrible* at this.

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To explain: I can buy a through ticket from Berlin to any rail station in NL, BE, CH, AT, CZ, DK. Some even in PL, HU, SI, HR. And *pretty much none in France*. Because SNCF makes it next to impossible. #ConnectingEuropeDays

Ha. Now someone from the bus industry saying there are few complaints about their industry. It could perhaps be that your hope is so low if you take a bus? Sorry! #ConnectingEuropeDays

I also think the premise completing TEN-T will improve passenger *rights* is incorrect. It might improve the passenger experience (speed, reliability). But things will still go wrong and operators will still be malevolent. #ConnectingEuropeDays

WHAT? SNCF now saying high speed rail is more unreliable in Spain since new operators entered the market. 1) Isn’t it SNCF operated OUIGO that’s worst? And 2) isn’t it because there are now more trains running? #ConnectingEuropeDays

Now SNCF - whose network is only about 4% ERTMS equipped - is defending ERTMS as a passenger benefit. Ok. #ConnectingEuropeDays

This presentation from Cécile Guilhaumaud from SNCF is amazing. She has no self awareness - anyone with any knowledge of this sector knows SNCF is in some of this *doing precisely the opposite* of what she is saying. #ConnectingEuropeDays

€6m cost for better info from SNCF Voyageurs as a result of 2023 Passenger Rights Regulation says Cécile Guilhaumaud. But can we know if SNCF is even fully compliant? #ConnectingEuropeDays

Siemens Vectron ad

Anything missing? 🤔

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Might be the last time I ever hear a speech by Adina Vălean 😭 😭 😭 #ConnectingEuropeDays

Damn I’m so stuck. I’m lost in this transport policy business.

I can’t stand the flowery rhetoric of politicians not backed up by action. I can’t bear officials hiding behind jargon. I can’t tolerate industry people saying the indefensible because they have to. #ConnectingEuropeDays

“Ensure a timely completion of the [TEN-T] network”

We *all* know it won’t be complete on time. Why are we even saying we can ensure timely completion? Why are we bullshitting ourselves?

#ConnectingEuropeDays

Karima Delli says TEN-T as TNT 🧨 and I can’t unhear it. #ConnectingEuropeDays

Now Delli complaining 40% of rail lines are not electrified. Don’t get me wrong - *some* of those ought to be electrified, but most of those lines are marginal, especially for freight. #ConnectingEuropeDays

You need a coherent intellectual framework to know how to talk about these big long term transport topics covered by TEN-T. And how to fit details into a whole. It’s genuinely hard. That’s probably why using jargon is so common here - it’s hard not to fall into that trap. #ConnectingEuropeDays

Now Martin Kupka (Czech transport minister) talking about gaps in TEN-T. That’s you he’s talking about, Bayern. #ConnectingEuropeDays

Oh 🤦‍♂️ They’re now trying to talk about re-gauging railways on the panel and it’s it effing peinlich. #ConnectingEuropeDays

And now the moderator is making facile points about Turku being close to Russia is painful too. Thank goodness Minna Arve the mayor of Turku is 😎#ConnectingEuropeDays