Come Hell or High Water

A convoy of glowing cars fights its way upstream against the relentless current of the Tyne. Only the roofs are visible to onlookers as they drift along, their vivid colours signalling their approach during the day, and at night their internal lights casting shimmering reflections across the water.

In the 19th century, the combustion engine liberated us from the monotony of river travel. But now, with roads bursting at the seams, have these bold travellers reclaimed our forgotten waterways? Do we need new amphibious vehicles as our roads flood and rivers dry up, their cracked beds exposed? As our journeys become more unpredictable, we must ask: are these clever fixes solving today’s crisis only to sow the seeds of tomorrow’s problems?