Thomas Ableman
@freewheeling.info
🚇 Was Strategy & Innovation Director Transport for London
🖊️ Freewheeling Blog / Podcast www.freewheeling.info/blog
SUBSTACK: Freewheeling Bitesize: https://freewheelingbitesize.substack.com/ & History of Europe in 75 Railway Journeys http://bit.ly/3EQNOPA
🖊️ Freewheeling Blog / Podcast www.freewheeling.info/blog
SUBSTACK: Freewheeling Bitesize: https://freewheelingbitesize.substack.com/ & History of Europe in 75 Railway Journeys http://bit.ly/3EQNOPA
Pinned
Thomas Ableman
@freewheeling.info
· May 4
Welcome to A HISTORY OF EUROPE IN 75 RAILWAY JOURNEYS
Riding the rails through 1,000 years of European history
open.substack.com
My happy place is the compartment of a European train, with a cup of coffee in one hand and a history book in the other.
Hence a Substack exploring European history based on my travels.
Each month the story of a different period through the prism of a ride.
open.substack.com/pub/historyo...
Hence a Substack exploring European history based on my travels.
Each month the story of a different period through the prism of a ride.
open.substack.com/pub/historyo...
This is beyond nuts. Being English is not an ethnicity. It’s being… English. Like both Suella and I am.
Or was Winston Churchill not English?
Or was Winston Churchill not English?
The British right has now descended to the point where 'the England team are not English' is becoming the consensus position
September 23, 2026 at 3:34 PM
This is beyond nuts. Being English is not an ethnicity. It’s being… English. Like both Suella and I am.
Or was Winston Churchill not English?
Or was Winston Churchill not English?
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
It is disgraceful and wilfully misleading that the BBC do not report that Danny Tommo was filmed slashing the boat.
Migrants taken to Dover after more than 30 hours at sea
Protesters gathered in Gosport after initial reports the small boat would be brought further west.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 23, 2026 at 11:04 AM
It is disgraceful and wilfully misleading that the BBC do not report that Danny Tommo was filmed slashing the boat.
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
Every time I return to Paris, I notice they've done more to reclaim streets from drivers and cars, including removing on-street parking, protecting cyclists from drivers, and prioritizing pedestrians and cyclists in shared spaces. Other cities can learn a lot from Paris.
September 22, 2026 at 2:13 PM
Every time I return to Paris, I notice they've done more to reclaim streets from drivers and cars, including removing on-street parking, protecting cyclists from drivers, and prioritizing pedestrians and cyclists in shared spaces. Other cities can learn a lot from Paris.
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
Summer of terrifying drought and wildfire, bus drivers sweltering in shocking temperatures, everyone losing sleep unable to get cool at night and *this* is the policy they come up with?
Just makes things worse and does nothing to address inequality or enable people to walk, cycle or catch a bus. 🤷♀️
Just makes things worse and does nothing to address inequality or enable people to walk, cycle or catch a bus. 🤷♀️
Petrol and diesel prices are higher than they've been for a long time and people need help now.
September 21, 2026 at 6:11 AM
Summer of terrifying drought and wildfire, bus drivers sweltering in shocking temperatures, everyone losing sleep unable to get cool at night and *this* is the policy they come up with?
Just makes things worse and does nothing to address inequality or enable people to walk, cycle or catch a bus. 🤷♀️
Just makes things worse and does nothing to address inequality or enable people to walk, cycle or catch a bus. 🤷♀️
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
Lib Dem pledge to cut fuel duty by 10p is depressingly bad policy: poorly targeted, expensive (£5bn), and it weakens incentives to switch to EVs and reduce usage.
September 20, 2026 at 8:55 AM
Lib Dem pledge to cut fuel duty by 10p is depressingly bad policy: poorly targeted, expensive (£5bn), and it weakens incentives to switch to EVs and reduce usage.
Tomorrow, I’m assuming we’ll have an interview with a prominent figure who has not lost faith in the UK.
Because surely this won’t be the ONLY topic on which the BBC doesn’t do “balance”
Because surely this won’t be the ONLY topic on which the BBC doesn’t do “balance”
Why does the BBC have as one of its lead news stories this morning another Britain-hating interview with Jim 'the UK has been colonised by immigrants' Ratcliffe? What public interest is this serving?
September 19, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Tomorrow, I’m assuming we’ll have an interview with a prominent figure who has not lost faith in the UK.
Because surely this won’t be the ONLY topic on which the BBC doesn’t do “balance”
Because surely this won’t be the ONLY topic on which the BBC doesn’t do “balance”
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
Why does the BBC have as one of its lead news stories this morning another Britain-hating interview with Jim 'the UK has been colonised by immigrants' Ratcliffe? What public interest is this serving?
September 19, 2026 at 7:55 AM
Why does the BBC have as one of its lead news stories this morning another Britain-hating interview with Jim 'the UK has been colonised by immigrants' Ratcliffe? What public interest is this serving?
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
The RNLI has said the abuse of volunteers in Portsmouth has forced it to close the lifeboat station there and stop operating since September 10. Nearby stations have been providing cover to the area instead. One of the UK's largest coastal cities without a lifeboat because of the far-right.
September 17, 2026 at 1:24 PM
The RNLI has said the abuse of volunteers in Portsmouth has forced it to close the lifeboat station there and stop operating since September 10. Nearby stations have been providing cover to the area instead. One of the UK's largest coastal cities without a lifeboat because of the far-right.
Fun fact: it was, briefly, possible to reach within a few miles of Piddington by tube. When London Transport was set up in 1933, it ended up acquiring a rural branch line to the village of Brill in Oxfordshire. Average train speed 4 mph.
September 16, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Fun fact: it was, briefly, possible to reach within a few miles of Piddington by tube. When London Transport was set up in 1933, it ended up acquiring a rural branch line to the village of Brill in Oxfordshire. Average train speed 4 mph.
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
The BBC is terrified by data showing its lost the trust of low-trust, Reform voters and is desprately trying to win them back through this bullshit...
...without realising that low-trust is their nature and all their efforts do is lose the faith of people who actually do trust the beeb
...without realising that low-trust is their nature and all their efforts do is lose the faith of people who actually do trust the beeb
BBC News currently acting as the propaganda arm of the Reform party.
September 16, 2026 at 6:35 AM
The BBC is terrified by data showing its lost the trust of low-trust, Reform voters and is desprately trying to win them back through this bullshit...
...without realising that low-trust is their nature and all their efforts do is lose the faith of people who actually do trust the beeb
...without realising that low-trust is their nature and all their efforts do is lose the faith of people who actually do trust the beeb
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
BBC News currently acting as the propaganda arm of the Reform party.
September 16, 2026 at 6:12 AM
BBC News currently acting as the propaganda arm of the Reform party.
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
In the movie version of this, after Piddington runs out of food water and money as a result of leaving the UK, the residents apply for asylum and end up housed in a military base, with HILARIOUS consequences.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Piddington in Oxfordshire votes to leave UK over asylum plans
Piddington residents voted over proposals to house up to 1,256 male asylum seekers nearby
www.bbc.com
September 16, 2026 at 6:37 AM
In the movie version of this, after Piddington runs out of food water and money as a result of leaving the UK, the residents apply for asylum and end up housed in a military base, with HILARIOUS consequences.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
The East Coast Mainline really is the most unfair route. Sights by side of train, if travelling south:
Calton Hill LEFT
Berwick LEFT
Berwickshire / Northumberland coast LEFT
Newcastle bridges LEFT
Durham Cathedral and Castle LEFT
York Minster LEFT
Peterborough Cathedral LEFT
Emirates Stadium LEFT
Calton Hill LEFT
Berwick LEFT
Berwickshire / Northumberland coast LEFT
Newcastle bridges LEFT
Durham Cathedral and Castle LEFT
York Minster LEFT
Peterborough Cathedral LEFT
Emirates Stadium LEFT
September 15, 2026 at 4:37 PM
The East Coast Mainline really is the most unfair route. Sights by side of train, if travelling south:
Calton Hill LEFT
Berwick LEFT
Berwickshire / Northumberland coast LEFT
Newcastle bridges LEFT
Durham Cathedral and Castle LEFT
York Minster LEFT
Peterborough Cathedral LEFT
Emirates Stadium LEFT
Calton Hill LEFT
Berwick LEFT
Berwickshire / Northumberland coast LEFT
Newcastle bridges LEFT
Durham Cathedral and Castle LEFT
York Minster LEFT
Peterborough Cathedral LEFT
Emirates Stadium LEFT
Trainline seems to think Scottish Independence has already happened.
Got this notification a few minutes after crossing the border into England
Got this notification a few minutes after crossing the border into England
September 15, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Trainline seems to think Scottish Independence has already happened.
Got this notification a few minutes after crossing the border into England
Got this notification a few minutes after crossing the border into England
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
Trump now attacking Zelensky for defending his country from Russian attack by taking out Russian oil supplies. Once again, there is no criticism of Putin. As always, the question is: If Trump were a Russian agent, how would he behave differently?
www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/13/t...
www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/13/t...
Trump Tells Ukraine's Zelensky to Stop Hitting Russian Diesel - The Moscow Times
U.S.
www.themoscowtimes.com
September 13, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Trump now attacking Zelensky for defending his country from Russian attack by taking out Russian oil supplies. Once again, there is no criticism of Putin. As always, the question is: If Trump were a Russian agent, how would he behave differently?
www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/13/t...
www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/13/t...
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
It's nonsense to suggest that people who support Brexit and Reform are motivated by racism. And if you don't believe me, check out this perfectly reasonable tweet by prominent Reform member and former mayoral candidate, Arron Banks.
September 10, 2026 at 8:31 PM
It's nonsense to suggest that people who support Brexit and Reform are motivated by racism. And if you don't believe me, check out this perfectly reasonable tweet by prominent Reform member and former mayoral candidate, Arron Banks.
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
Well, yes, it makes sense that Itamar Ben-Gvir would think the question of sovereignty has nothing to do with the people who actually live there
September 8, 2026 at 7:09 AM
Well, yes, it makes sense that Itamar Ben-Gvir would think the question of sovereignty has nothing to do with the people who actually live there
Genuinely, could someone who understands the media explain to me why the BBC has spent the weekend looking the other way both from Reform's leaders being videoed engaging in a criminal offence, and to far-right blackshirts hitting the streets?
Why? What conversations are happening in BH?
Why? What conversations are happening in BH?
September 8, 2026 at 9:35 AM
Genuinely, could someone who understands the media explain to me why the BBC has spent the weekend looking the other way both from Reform's leaders being videoed engaging in a criminal offence, and to far-right blackshirts hitting the streets?
Why? What conversations are happening in BH?
Why? What conversations are happening in BH?
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
Truly wild to have lived through moral panics about teenagers wearing hoodies and Muslim women wearing the head dress to now experience 'but is a large group of organised far right activists in balaclavas really that scary'
What a ridiculous question. Once again the BBC drives a nail into it's own coffin.
September 8, 2026 at 9:07 AM
Truly wild to have lived through moral panics about teenagers wearing hoodies and Muslim women wearing the head dress to now experience 'but is a large group of organised far right activists in balaclavas really that scary'
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
I find it baffling that Labour does not seem to get this. By equivocating on such a core issue, they’re making their own voters unsure about the core values of the party / government and hence more susceptible to voting for someone else.
I want the Prime Minister to look into a TV camera and say the RNLI are heroes, that we do not change policy by street violence in this country, and that he expects any criminal action to face the full force of the law. That's it. That's all he has to do.
September 7, 2026 at 2:26 PM
I find it baffling that Labour does not seem to get this. By equivocating on such a core issue, they’re making their own voters unsure about the core values of the party / government and hence more susceptible to voting for someone else.
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
I want the Prime Minister to look into a TV camera and say the RNLI are heroes, that we do not change policy by street violence in this country, and that he expects any criminal action to face the full force of the law. That's it. That's all he has to do.
September 7, 2026 at 12:15 PM
I want the Prime Minister to look into a TV camera and say the RNLI are heroes, that we do not change policy by street violence in this country, and that he expects any criminal action to face the full force of the law. That's it. That's all he has to do.
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
Suppose the blackshirts would also have marched then as well but they were all in prison.
September 8, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Suppose the blackshirts would also have marched then as well but they were all in prison.
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
Shameful and saddening from Simon Schama.
What is happening in Gaza is not the Holocaust. But it *is* genocidal, perpetrated by an explicitly and openly genocidal government, and he knows that.
This denialism demeans him and his record as a great historian.
www.jewishnews.co.uk/simon-schama...
What is happening in Gaza is not the Holocaust. But it *is* genocidal, perpetrated by an explicitly and openly genocidal government, and he knows that.
This denialism demeans him and his record as a great historian.
www.jewishnews.co.uk/simon-schama...
Simon Schama: Anybody accusing Israel of committing genocide should be ashamed - Jewish News
In speech at HET appeal dinner, the historian and professor says 'We, the victims of the greatest genocide the world has ever seen, are being called perpetrators of genocide'
www.jewishnews.co.uk
September 8, 2026 at 7:25 AM
Shameful and saddening from Simon Schama.
What is happening in Gaza is not the Holocaust. But it *is* genocidal, perpetrated by an explicitly and openly genocidal government, and he knows that.
This denialism demeans him and his record as a great historian.
www.jewishnews.co.uk/simon-schama...
What is happening in Gaza is not the Holocaust. But it *is* genocidal, perpetrated by an explicitly and openly genocidal government, and he knows that.
This denialism demeans him and his record as a great historian.
www.jewishnews.co.uk/simon-schama...
Reposted by Thomas Ableman
One reason England does so well is our second generation immigrants outperform their peers which is not true in most OECD countries.
We are also very good at integration. And it's v sad that this is never acknowledge in debates on immigration.
We are also very good at integration. And it's v sad that this is never acknowledge in debates on immigration.
September 8, 2026 at 8:18 AM
One reason England does so well is our second generation immigrants outperform their peers which is not true in most OECD countries.
We are also very good at integration. And it's v sad that this is never acknowledge in debates on immigration.
We are also very good at integration. And it's v sad that this is never acknowledge in debates on immigration.