Markonthemaps (Mark Ovenden)

The reporter told me on LinkedIn that although the Southampton one does generate electricity it comes from a Combined Heat and Power system that’s driven by gas. So looks like I may have been wrong. Either way: it was perhaps a misleading headline. Ah well! It’s all good news for the environment!

Earth's heat to produce electricity for homes in UK clean energy first Water super-heated by rocks will also provide the UK's first domestic supply of the critical mineral lithium.

#BBCverify this is great news but you report the #Truro site being the UK’s “first geothermal power plant”: surely the Southampton District one has been doing this for years? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southam...
Please check your facts and adjust the reporting, thanks.

Yeah I agree with @stephenkb.bsky.social here. #WashingtonDC #Metro stations some of my favourites in world. #TransitSky

A bee emerges from a #crocus in our garden today. Can it be that the first signs of a long awaited #Spring in #UK are finally beginning? Praise the great power of #nature I say! 17 degrees on the weather station too (about twice the average for this of year here). Very nice!

@bettertransport.bsky.social doing superb and essential work on campaigning for one of most underrated and poorly supported but vital services: the humble bus. The workhorse of public transport.

Making #mapping more meaningful! A good campaign here to improve information at bus stops. If you’re near #Manchester in early March, go check this out:

Loving the slogan: “the future rides on public transit”!
#TransitSky

What would you do with half a million train photos? That was the task facing Robin Fell who set up the UK's largest privately owned archive of transport images. Find out how he made www.transporttreasury.com on today's CATCH-cast. www.vectisradio.com/on-air/prese...

Great to hear #Egypt and other African states are advancing #urbanrail expansion.

#BBCWorldService is a thoroughly underrated asset.

At last some good news on #transport! New #rail stations for #Wales and some long needed improvements. More of this please!

Stupendously Unnecessary Vehicles ( #SUV ‘s) are killing and maiming many more people in accidents than less high-fronted ones. Phase them out, tax the off the roads, stop this lunacy now. They are not needed status symbols causing death and damage. More investment in #public #transport needed!

From #secret Soviet military #maps of Britain to #bus maps, John Davies has been collecting and writing about them. He joins me on the CATCH-cast to discuss his books including 'The Rise of Demise of the Bus Map'. Listen here: www.vectisradio.com/on-air/prese...

Time has passed to try and gently discourage the phase out of Stupendously Unnecessary Vehicles (#SUV’s). There needs to be an absolute ban on sales of these dangerous, greedy, space-hungry, road-destroying, death tractors.
#waroncars, back to #publictransport, #safercycling etc

#high-speed #rail link between #Ireland and #UK proposed: Totally wonderful vision in many ways. Brilliant it has stations in all 4 nations and Ireland. Ireland even has the coffers to support some of this but does anyone in Britain have the nous to back it?

www.propertyweek.com/news/high-sp...

Spotted this bright #fungus or #mushroom t’other day (in a rare moment of sunshine). No idea what it is. Any suggestions oh wise ones?

Judge orders Trump administration to unfreeze more than $16 billion for NY tunnel project | CNN Politics A federal judge in New York ruled Friday that the Trump administration must unfreeze more than $16 billion earmarked for a major New York infrastructure project and allow construction to continue, say...

Good to see the unfreezing of funding for the #Hudson #rail #tunnel. This is the extra cost: #POTUS will “drop his freeze on the funding under the condition that Schumer agree to rename New York’s Penn Station and Washington’s Dulles International Airport after Trump. www.cnn.com/2026/02/06/p...

125 years ago, Marconi sent the first radio signal over the horizon from The Needles to The Lizard (Cornwall). Isle of Wight Radio Society chair Steve Cownley explains why it was a pivotal moment and the joys of being a radio ham. www.vectisradio.com/on-air/prese...

70 YEARS AGO TODAY THE NEWPORT TO SANDOWN RAILWAY CLOSED Trains on the Newport to Sandown railway made their final runs on 6th February 1956, bringing to an end a

We keep hitting these anniversaries of #rail line closures. Most depressing that so few have been reversed. A huge programme of re-opening and investment would stimulate the “growth” the economy “needs”, cut pollution and help communities recover. Get it done!
www.islandecho.co.uk/70-years-ago...

Should have added the links to Sarah @sgoodyear.bsky.social , Doug @brooklynspoke.bsky.social and their podcast:
@thewaroncars.bsky.social
Great guests, so informative and covering issues we all need to think about!

With 40,000 killed on American roads every year and 22-lane highways still being built...how can they be weened off automobiles? Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon believe there is a Life After Cars and are inspired by some European lessons. Listen here: www.vectisradio.com/on-air/prese...

One of the UK's most prolific railway book authors, Julian Holland, talks about his early trainspotting, background in design, closed railways and how met Jimi Hendrix! www.vectisradio.com/on-air/prese...

Protest held against decision to fill in Queensbury Tunnel About 150 people gathered at Queensbury Tunnel near Bradford to protest a decision to fill it in.

#SaveQueensburyTunnel!
Seems insane to fill in this old #railway tunnel when there is such demand to retain it as a cycle way and pedestrian link.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Love "Secrets of the Underground" & "The Architecture the Railways Built"? Listen to @mrtimdunn.bsky.social explain how he got the gig & why he's so fascinated by it all. Plus how his parents met across a crowded platform...& why he also loves #modelvillages! www.vectisradio.com/podcasts/cat...

We all live in hope Andy!

Labour revives Northern Powerhouse Rail project with pledge of £45bn funds Plan will start with TransPennine upgrade with new line connecting Liverpool and Manchester in second phase

This all sounds great of course. And is just what the #north needs. Bravo to all #mayors in pulling #Treasury to a commitment (though ideally should not be necessary).
Just worry we are in a period of long term announcements over things that later get cancelled. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Photo taken across back garden of bright red colour clouds in morning sky

Red sky in the morning and all that - now where did I leave those darn sheep? And why aren’t they pluralised with an ‘s’ at the end like most other self respecting nouns?

#Motorway Service Stations, #HolidayCamps, Train Platforms, the #Underground ...these are spaces we take for granted - but as #DavidLawrence reveals they have all be carefully crafted. Hear from a Doctor who knows...and one with a mercurial Pirate past too! www.vectisradio.com/podcasts/cat...

YouTube video by Kinolibrary 1960s Women's Exercise Class, Stretching

Pink leotards, draughty halls and ‘Wheels Cha Cha’ on the Dansette…fond memories of mum taking me to her ‘ #KeepFit’ classes in the late 1960s (in this anniversary week of her passing a few years ago). Did you ever go to one of these? youtu.be/qW6jQSbDHs4?...
Music: youtu.be/HfvZkMUGrzU?...

Andy Burnham apologises for Manchester police homophobia - Peter Tatchell Foundation But the Chief Constable, Stephen Watson, refuses to say sorry

Here's some good news for LGBTQI+ community: @mayorofgm.bsky.social #AndyBurnham doing correct thing again: petertatchellfoundation.org/andy-burnham... But tireless campaigner @petertatchell.bsky.social right to insist #GreaterManchesterPolice also step up and issue apology for historic #homophobia.