Solar panels could be used to power a sizeable chunk of Britain’s DC electric rail network, a new report has suggested. Climate change charity 10:10 and Imperial College London’s Energy Futures Lab looked at the …
Continue readingAuthor: Long Branch Mike
NYC Gateway Tunnel finally fully funded (Progressive Railroading)
Govs. Christie, Cuomo commit to their financial share of Gateway Tunnel project – The governors of New York and New Jersey on Wednesday pledged to fund 100 percent of their states’ share of the new …
Continue readingFriday Reads – December 15, 2017
Welcome to Reconnections’ Friday Reads. This week’s lineup: • Without Congestion Zone, London traffic would be 20% slower (StreetsBlog) • Melbourne Road Usage Study studies road charges (The Conversation) • Dublin Luas LRT line opens, …
Continue readingTfL eyes digital innovation as funding salvation (Infrastructure Intel)
TfL commissioner Mike Brown has highlighted how digital innovation is the “salvation” for the capital’s transport network and has urged those working in the industry to come forward with ideas that will keep the TfL …
Continue readingEuropean tram-train alliance formed (Tramways & Urban Transit)
The Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen (VDV – Association of German Transport Operators) and seven transport undertakings from across Germany and Austria have set up a joint group to procure tram-train LRVs to drive efficiencies of scale …
Continue readingUS transit agency large project integration problems (Pedestrian Observations)
The German/Swiss planning slogan, organization before electronics before concrete, means that transit agencies should first make sure all modes of public transit are coordinated to work together (organization) before engaging in expensive capital construction. In …
Continue readingKeep Calm and Think Blue (Rail Engineer)
Just over a mile south of Stirling station was what was once considered to be Scotland’s highest risk footpath crossing. St Ninian’s crossing was located on Millhall Road and, although it had been closed to …
Continue readingHybrid electric plane design (Tree Hugger)
Until recently, the idea of fully electric commercial flight wasn’t even on my radar. But as battery costs come down dramatically, this prospect is moving from (ahem) pie-in-the-sky to a very real possibility within the …
Continue readingFriday Reads – December 8, 2017
Welcome to Reconnections’ Friday Reads. This week’s lineup: • Average journey times of trains into London in 1968 (Spatial.ly) • Capacity Relief at Camden Town station – Talk 9 Jan 2018 (LURS) • UPS making …
Continue readingElectric black cabs hit London’s streets (Engineering & Technology)
Electric versions of London’s famous black cabs are hitting the capital’s streets today in preparation for the introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) next year. The vehicles come with a range of new …
Continue readingOriginal Birmingham tram fleet auction (Transport for West Midlands)
The West Midlands Combined Authority/Transport for West Midlands (WMCA) is delighted to announce an exciting one-time opportunity to own not only a piece of transport history, but also a fleet of 15 type T-69 light …
Continue readingTfL hopes tunnel WiFi will help fund transport system (Wired)
TfL planning document reveals the transport body’s hopes that all three plans — mobile coverage underground, the fibre network, and 5G support — would help fund the transport system: “Our expectation is that the commercial …
Continue readingSmart Mobility & Open Data (ITDP)
Many major cities around the world are seeing rapid population growth, resulting in increased strain on existing road and public transportation network infrastructure as the numbers on the daily commute swell. Smart mobility – putting …
Continue readingSNCF designs monster train doors to boost safety (Global Rail News)
Operator SNCF Transilien has had a novel idea to increasing passenger safety in France. On the Île-de-France région’s suburban rail network, the train company has revealed a specially designed train that has a red “monster” …
Continue readingFriday Reads – December 1, 2017
Welcome to Reconnections’ Friday Reads. This week’s lineup: • Visualising the daily pulse of the Tube (Tube Heartbeat) • TfL claims public transport users subsidise London’s roads (CityMetric) • Disused passenger tunnels to reopen at …
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