Illustration: Andy Carter

What if...

..we had a right to public transport? Pipe dream or tested model for a better world? Conrad Landin jumps on the bandwagon.

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NI 547 - Climate capitalism - January, 2024
Only Planet

Only Planet

Autonomous vehicles by Marc Roberts.

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NI 544 - Palestine - July, 2023
RMT activists on a picket line during a strike against driver-only operation on Southern, which operates commuter services to London. The RMT ultimately lost this dispute, but drove back similar moves from other train operating companies in Britain.Photo: Andrew Wiard

We’re going to be having punch-ups

Tom Haines-Doran explores the recent disputes between Britain’s train operating companies and rail union RMT over driver-only operation – and asks why railway workers are both willing to take strike action and successful in doing so.

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NI 539 - Railways - September, 2022
Illustration: Megan Park

Cheminots of fire

The history of the railways is steeped in the development of capitalism and imperialism. But it has also been profoundly shaped from the bottom up. Conrad Landin profiles five trailblazers who left their mark on the tracks.

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NI 539 - Railways - September, 2022
Conductor Lorena Kristiansen stands beside her train at Flam station in Norway. Railway infrastructure projects can cause significant disruption to the environment and can come at a heavy cost – but the environmental benefits of railway connectivity are clear.Photo: Fredrik Naumann/Panos

The will for a permanent way

The low-friction, high-capacity technology of railways means the economic and environmental costs of expanding them are worthwhile, argues Gareth Dennis.

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NI 539 - Railways - September, 2022
Passengers arrive at Dar es Salaam after a journey on the TAZARA railway.Photo: Keystone/Zumapress/Alamy

The promised land

Half a century after Tanzania and Zambia built a railway to reduce the latter’s dependence on its white-ruled neighbours, East Africa’s railways are once again on the up. Can new lines help African countries trade with each other – or are they just a beacon of the new imperialism? Priya Sippy reports.

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NI 539 - Railways - September, 2022
Action & info

Action & info

Initiatives, action, and further reading on railways.

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NI 539 - Railways - September, 2022
India’s railways are frequently hailed by defenders of the British Empire as a positive legacy of colonialism. While the country has an extensive network which ranks among the world’s biggest employers, it was designed to serve the interests of imperialism and private profit – with the directors of the sub continent’s first railway drawn from the ranks of the East India Company. Here passengers prepare to eat on board a modern-day sleeper train.Photo: Boaz Rottem/Alamy

Back on track?

On every continent, the railways are experiencing a renaissance. But what will it take to reshape them in the interests of people? Conrad Landin investigates.

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NI 539 - Railways - September, 2022
Illustration: Andy Carter

What if…

Urban public transport was free for all? Conrad Landin investigates.

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NI 534 - The future of work - November, 2021
Pirates’ victims are overwhelmingly seafarers from poor nations. Above, Vietnamese sailor Vu Van Ba is reunited with his parents after 18 months held hostage off the coast of Somalia.Ngyuen Huy Khan/Reuters

In the firing line

Piracy is just one in a long list of problems facing seafarers in a cut-throat shipping industry, reports Olivia Swift.

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NI 465 - How the war on pirates became big business - September, 2013
Sturdy enough for two: bamboo bikes may be just the ticket in Africa.Bamboo Bike Project / The Earth Institute

Bamboo bikes

Bamboo is so tough and so plentiful it’s used for construction scaffolding all aver Asia. So why not use it to build bikes? It seemed like a good idea to design maestro Craig Calfee and to the Earth Institute at Columbia University in New York City. The two have teamed up to build better bikes for poor Africans in rural areas and stimulate the local bicycle industry in a number of African countries. The NI talked to Bamboo Bike Project co-ordinator and Columbia scientist David Ho.

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NI 417 - Through Afghan eyes - November, 2008

Pedal power

When it comes to the future, the car simply can't compete. Chris Webb charts the comeback of the people's best friend – the humble bicycle. And you can even make one out of bamboo.

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NI 417 - Through Afghan eyes - November, 2008

Articles in this category displayed as a table:

Article title From magazine Publication date
Climate capitalism January, 2024
Palestine July, 2023
Railways September, 2022
Railways September, 2022
Railways September, 2022
Railways September, 2022
Railways September, 2022
Railways September, 2022
The future of work November, 2021
How the war on pirates became big business September, 2013
Through Afghan eyes November, 2008
Through Afghan eyes November, 2008
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