Several Bay Area major venture capital firms announce that they will shift their portfolios toward funding physical green infrastructure, including solar and wind power generation, utility lines, hydroelectric dams, environmental remediation projects for dams, and …
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LA Union Station overhaul plan scaled back as costs soar (Urbanize)
Since acquiring the Union Station in 2011, Metro has sought to overhaul the historic passenger rail terminal’s appeal as both a transit hub and a real estate asset. The planned makeover – called Link Union Station – …
Continue readingSpanish gauge-changing technology to integrate Ukrainian railways with Europe (RailwaySupply)
The Spanish railway infrastructure operator, Adif, and Ukrzaliznytsia will develop a pilot project using the technology for automatically adjusting the gauge of freight wagons to different tracks for western transitions, this is reported by the …
Continue readingHow building more urban rail could slash CO₂ emissions (WorldBank)
The climate crisis is getting worse, with both the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and COP28 in its final agreement emphasizing the urgency of steep greenhouse gas emissions reductions to keep global warming below 1.5°C as …
Continue readingGlobal Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) reveals 15 rail innovations it’s funding (NewCivilEngineer)
The Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) has revealed the 15 rail innovations that will be made reality at the facility, including an underpass made with hyperTunnel’s swarm construction. GCRE was established by the Welsh …
Continue readingNYC Subway State of Good Repair to Cost $43B over 5 Years, 80% of budget (CityLab)
New York City’s public transportation system will need an estimated $43 billion for capital repairs during the next five years, according to a new analysis by the state’s comptroller. Thomas DiNapoli’s projection comes as the Metropolitan Transportation …
Continue readingThe Explosion in Costs & Timelines for US Transit Projects: Video (Nandert)
Costs have been rising and timelines lengthening to infuriating extremes for transit projects in the US. What’s causing this, and how can it be solved?
Continue readingCovenants, Easements & Wayleaves: Mind the Gap of London Infrastructure Knowledge (Part 3)
This series has revealed a hitherto unknown complex and often murky relationship between London’s underground railways and its environment. Unsurprisingly in the twenty-first century, with so much of London having been tunneled, excavated, bombed, developed, …
Continue readingMonday’s Friday Reads – 15 January 2023
• Woolwich Elizabeth station much busier than predicted, to test escalator decrowding ideas (IanVisits) • Alstom signs €500m contract for Saudi catenary-free tramway system (Railway Technology) • European cities don’t regret 30 km/h speed limits …
Continue readingFuture of tunnelling means more risk management on ‘undervalued’ events (NewCivilEngineer)
While techniques, practices and resources in tunnelling are continually improving, risk will never be eliminated and the ways to manage it must be updated and maintained alongside them. Tunnelling is one of the most complex …
Continue readingImproved track laying technology used on East West Rail (RailTechnology)
East West Rail has completed the first stage of track laying for the project using an innovative track laying solution. The New Track Construction (NTC) train has completed 58 shifts, laying the foundation for the ambitious …
Continue reading$12B Brightline West new passenger railway advances (RailwayAge)
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has authorized construction and operation of a modified alignment of the high-speed passenger rail project proposed by private-sector firm Brightline West, subject to environmental mitigation measures. Brightline West says its …
Continue readingThe Evolution of Tunnel Boring Machines (ConstructionPhysics)
Tunneling is an important technology for modern civilization, as a tunnel is often the only reasonable way to create a direct path between two points. When the Hoosac tunnel was completed in 1875, it turned …
Continue readingMonday’s Friday Reads – 23 October 2023
• TfL & Google Maps collaborate to make cycling better for Londoners & world (TfL) • Glasgow Subway services could soon run later (Glasgow Live) • ULEZ already raising air quality at 144 more London schools (OnLondon) …
Continue readingDithering & long processes make the UK’s infrastructure too expensive (SamDumitriu)
“Unachievable.” The Infrastructure and Projects Authority’s assessment of High Speed 2 (HS2) does not pull its punches. Back in 2013, the high-speed line to connect London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds was estimated to cost about £56.7bn …
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