How the Railways Will Fix the Future : Rediscovering the Essential Brilliance of the Iron Road

Author: Dennis, Gareth

Political science & theory

Published on 12 November 2024 by Watkins Media Limited (Repeater Books) in the United Kingdom.

Paperback | 288 pages
197 x 130 x 25 | 260g

The world's railways were almost entirely created by capital and empire for extraction andexploitation, so what right do they have to exist and how can they be harnessed for good?Railway engineer and writer Gareth Dennis builds a case not simply for railways as acommon good, but argues that railways are a critical tool for humanity to survive and thrive.

Whether it's the power of organised labour, the threats and opportunities of new technology,the distribution of democratic power or the calamitous impacts of climate change, railwayscan act as a lens through which to understand the future and the part they can play in it.

Dennis takes us across the globe, from Virgin Hyperloop's abandoned test track in theNevada desert to the overcrowded stations of the North of England, exploring how railwayscan shape and inform choices about our future, and in turn detailing how taking a long-termview can help shape transport for the better. With his deep knowledge of railways and hisunique view of history and politics, he equips us with the tools to answer those imperativequestions: what and who should our railways be for?