Manuel Erhardt @erhardt@librem.one

TIL that #Alexandria (EG) operates the oldest tramline in the #MiddleEast and #Africa. Operations started on January 8th, 1863.

It is also one of the very few networks that uses double-deck cars.

https://railway-news.com/hitachi-rail-to-modernise-oldest-tramline-in-middle-east/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_in_Alexandria

Photo credit: Mark Fischer/CC BY-SA 2.0, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alexandria_Tram_218.jpg

#RailwaySunday #TIL #technology #infrastructure #tram #Egypt

NATO chief Mark Rutte said on Thursday that the alliance is closing the gap with Russia's advantage in ammunition manufacturing.

"We are already turning the tide on ammunition," Rutte said at a defense industry forum in Bucharest, Romania. "Until recently, Russia was producing more ammunition than all NATO allies put together. But not anymore."

https://www.businessinsider.com/nato-chief-mark-rutte-turning-the-tide-russia-ammo-production-2025-11

#NATO #Rutte #Russia #Ukraine #Romania #ammunition #economy

The European Commission has unveiled a new plan that aims to accelerate the development of high-speed rail across the European Union, offering passengers greatly reduced travel times. It is set to build on the trans-European transport network, and cut the duration of a number rail journeys across the region by half when compared to their current iterations.

https://railway-news.com/new-plans-to-accelerate-development-of-high-speed-rail-across-the-eu/

#RailwaySunday #Europe #EU #infrastructure

In case you're wondering how the frog looks like, here is a picture 😉

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons/Trio3D/CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2019-06-16_Spreestra%C3%9Fe,_switch_112,_frog.png

TIL that the railroad frog, which is the part of a switch that allows trains to move from one set of tracks to another, is called like that because its V-shape resembles the bottom of a horse hoof. The V-shaped part on the hoof is called "frog".

https://worldwiderails.com/why-is-it-called-a-railroad-frog/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_hoof#Anatomy

#RailwaySunday #technology #switch #TIL #trains #railroads #horse #anatomy

With all the #votes now counted in the #Netherlands’ Oct 29 #GeneralElection, the far-right #FreedomParty led by Mr Geert #Wilders – a politician who gained notoriety with his hate-filled speeches against #immigrants and #Islam – has suffered a shock electoral reversal, holding only 26 seats in the country’s 150-seat #Parliament.

The next Dutch government is now almost certain to be formed by the Democrats 66 (#D66) party.

https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/far-right-freedom-party-suffers-shock-reversal-in-dutch-elections

#elections #politics #Europe #Jetten

Eritrean Railway, showing mountainous terrain traversed between Arbaroba and Asmara.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons/Voice of Clam/jjron/Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eritrean_Railway_-_2008-11-04-edit1.jpg

#RailwaySunday #EritreanRailway #Africa #Eritrea #Arbaroba #Asmara #trains #railway #nature #infrastructure

#NetworkRail has unveiled the first redesign of the railway’s national #clock design in over 50 years at London Bridge station.

The timepiece was designed by WPP agency Design Bridge and Partners, and was chosen from a list of more than 100 entrants.

https://railway-news.com/network-rail-launches-first-national-railway-clock-redesign-in-50-years/

#RailwaySunday #London #UK #UnitedKingdom #railway #trains #TrainStation #design

In a sign of growing integration between #Russia and its tightly controlled #Belarus neighbor, #Kremlin strongman Vladimir #Putin announced over the weekend that Belarusians living in the Russian Federation and his own citizens living in Belarus can now participate in their local #elections.

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/49016

#Europe #Asia #Lukashenko #politics

TIL that some train stations have a platform 0, e.g. #Aarau (CH), #Kyoto (JP) and #TanahAbang (ID). It is usually a result of constructing a new platform next to the existing platform 1, and the decision not to rename all other platforms.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platform_0

#RailwaySunday #Switzerland #Japan #Indonesia #FunFact #trains #railway #TrainStation #RailwayStation #station #infrastructure

#India will finance and construct two cross-border rail links with #Bhutan worth Rs 46bn ($US 541m): the 69km Kokrajhar - Gelephu line and 20km of new line from Banarhat to Samtse.
[T]he new lines [will] serve as vital trade and passenger corridors, unlocking new economic opportunities for both nations.
Both lines will be fully electrified.
https://www.railjournal.com/infrastructure/india-to-build-cross-border-lines-to-bhutan/

#RailwaySunday #Asia #infrastructure #railway #trains #economy

The party of billionaire ex-premier Andrej #Babis topped the Czech general election on Saturday, October 4, with 97% of the vote counted, according to official results. His #ANO (Yes) party, campaigning on pledges of welfare and halting military aid to #Ukraine, scored 35.2% of the vote in the country of 10.9 million people.

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/10/04/party-of-populist-czech-billionaire-andrej-babis-wins-parliamentary-elections_6746096_4.html

#CzechRepublic #Czechia #Europe #elections #vote #parliament

With 98% of votes counted, the results showed that around half of Moldovans favored staying on the EU course.

The ruling pro-EU Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), which has held a strong parliamentary majority since 2021, secured 49.6% of ballots, according to preliminary results.

The pro-Russian Patriotic Bloc came second, winning 24.6%.

https://p.dw.com/p/51Cat

#Moldova #Europe #elections #PAS #PEB