For many skeptics of public transportation, small is the next big thing. Elon Musk, who once said that “public transport is painful, it sucks,” unveiled a concept for an autonomous “Cybercab” in October — the Tesla CEO’s latest take …
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Friday Reads – 10 January 2025
• New Jersey commuters report crowded trains with congestion pricing (PIX11) • US Rapid Transit Projects planned to open in 2025 (TransportPolitic) • The Interconnexion between Broad Street & Liverpool Street Stations, as were (LondonRail) …
Continue readingMadrid Metro trains 1,700 people with disabilities for independent travel (GlobalRailway)
Madrid Metro has announced that the Community of Madrid has taken significant steps towards social inclusion by training over 1,700 individuals with intellectual disabilities in navigating the Metro network independently. Since its launch in 2018, the …
Continue readingA new rail link & station for high speed trains under Florence (Mediarail)
Florence is about to undergo a major overhaul of its rail hub. To avoid high-speed trains having to turn around through the existing station, a new underground link is being created beneath the historic heart …
Continue readingCommuter Rail BEMU Rolling Stock Costs (PedestrianObservations)
[Effective Transit Alliance] ETA just published a report on New York rolling stock costs for commuter rail. In the report, we talk about the need to electrify the entire system, and, if there are unelectrified …
Continue readingCoventry Very Light Rail moves towards on-road tests (BBC)
On-road trials for the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) system are set to take place within months. Councillors will be asked to approve a short stretch of trial usage on Greyfriars Road and Queen Victoria …
Continue readingMonday’s Friday Reads – 6 January 2025
• Royal Mint launches £2 coin to mark the Railway’s 200th anniversary (Rail UK) • Paris & Berlin high-speed train link launches w/ fares from €59 (Euronews) • Cars Need Buttons, Not Touchscreens, for Safety …
Continue readingResurrecting Railways: Lessons from two Scottish Projects (RailEngineer)
The DfT’s “Restoring Your Railway” initiative has raised hopes of extending England’s rail passenger network. Yet Scotland has led the field in expanding its passenger network. This article describes the two largest completed projects and …
Continue readingVery Light Rail – VLR – an update on 2 train designs (RailEngineer)
Revolution VLR Malcolm Dobell described the Revolution VLR (RVLR) in Issue 193 (Nov-Dec 2021). Design of this demonstrator vehicle started in 2018, construction in 2019, and the vehicle was completed in 2021. It was then …
Continue readingNYC’s Run-Down Port Authority Bus Terminal Gets Approval for $10 Billion Revamp (CityLab)
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey finally secured the green light to start its $10 billion replacement and expansion of the world’s busiest bus terminal. The FTA announced final go-ahead following environmental reviews. Makeover …
Continue readingLet’s Get Metaphysical – Patron Saints of Railways & other Transport Modes
Who watches over us from the Heavens when we travel? We take a non-denominational look at the Transport Spirit World. It is now time to look at some divine transport intervention, delving into the beatified …
Continue readingNew track sleepers could slash carbon on rail network (RailTechnology)
Network Rail’s Wales and Western region has developed a new type of sleeper which unlocks new environmental benefits. The region worked with Network Rail’s Technical Authority to create ‘hedgehog’ sleepers – so called because the design looks …
Continue readingThe vision behind London’s safe cycling evolution & future: Will Norman interview (Zag)
London is in the midst of a cycling revolution. With a Cycleway network that’s surpassed 400 kilometres, the capital city now boasts bike lanes that are officially longer than the London Underground. Zag turns to London’s …
Continue readingNovel software to assess TfL train platform interface clearances (RailwayGazette)
TfL is a longstanding client of D/Gauge engineering and consultancy services, and is now also using the Cloud-based gauging platform which has been configured to suit its clearance standards, reporting outputs, and vehicle models. As well …
Continue readingEV batteries might last a lot longer than we thought (AirQualityNews)
Researchers in America have found that the way we have been testing the lifespan of electric vehicle batteries is flawed and most may last around 40% longer than previously thought. The traditional way to test …
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