• West Midlands Metro tram extension opens Sunday 17 July (RailPro) • Northumberland passenger line reopening campaign well fought (ChristianWolmar) • Eversholt & Vivarail examining feasibility of Class 321 battery multiple unit (ModernRailways) • Spain introducing …
Continue readingCategory: Sustainability
LA Metrolink commuter rail powered by renewable fuel (MassTransit)
Metrolink has switched to renewable fuel, making it the first agency in the nation to completely power all its locomotives with the cleaner burning alternative. The renewable fuel is made of recycled natural fats and vegetable …
Continue readingMonday’s Friday Reads – 11 July 2022
• Uber Files leak reveals ruthless global lobbying campaign (Guardian) • Fleetwood Poulton rail line reopening approved (BBC) • Germany’s beleaguered rail network is overdue for a $14Bn overhaul (CityLab) • Fiat rooftop car factory …
Continue readingLondon Underground seeks renewable electricity contract (MetroReport)
London Underground has called tenders for a long-term contract for the supply of electricity from renewable sources, as part of a wider scheme for the Greater London Authority group to move to renewable energy by …
Continue readingFriday Reads – 1 July 2022
• 9 more abandoned rail schemes receive funding toward restoration (NewCivilEng) • Northern line Night Tube to return July 2 (RailUK) • Paris beltway to swap traffic lanes for green space (CityLab) • Rotterdam rooftop …
Continue readingGlobal Health Series on Urban Design, Transport, & Health (TheLancet)
Good city planning produces co-benefits for individual and planetary health and wellbeing. In 2016, the Lancet Series on urban design, transport, and health drew attention to the importance of integrated upstream city planning policies as …
Continue readingHS2 trials electric drilling rig (RailwayNews)
HS2 Ltd’s construction partner, Balfour Beatty VINCI Joint Venture (BBV) is trialling an electric, high-capacity drilling rig for construction on HS2’s site in Warwickshire. This trial advances the joint venture’s plan to meet HS2 Ltd’s …
Continue readingFriday Reads – 10 June 2022
• West Midlands tram services resume Wolverhampton to Bull Street (BritishTrams) • Rennes rubber-tyred CityVAL Line B opening postponed for 5th time (IntlRailJ) • 120 years of Berlin’s U-Bahn: podcast (MonocleRadio) • How to literally …
Continue readingPlastic batteries could store renewable grid energy (MITTechReview)
A new type of battery made from electrically conductive polymers—basically plastic—could help make energy storage on the grid cheaper and more durable, enabling a greater use of renewable power. The batteries, made by Boston-based startup PolyJoule, …
Continue readingThe search for alternatives to pricey lithium (CanadianBusiness)
A small group of companies is finding ways to stretch supplies of rare minerals further. Or build batteries that don’t need them at all. The sharp uptick in electric vehicle sales in the past two years holds …
Continue readingThe lifetime cost of driving a car (EcologicalEcon)
The car is one of the most expensive household consumer goods, yet there is a limited understanding of its private (internal) and social (external) cost per vehicle-km, year, or lifetime of driving. This paper provides …
Continue readingMunich trialing solar bus trailer for aux power (UrbanTransport)
A bus train operated by the Munich Transport Company (MVG) will in future be on regular service with solar cells on the roof. MVG officially presented the vehicle on Thursday, March 31, 2022 together with the start-up …
Continue readingZero emission electric train to use gravity to recharge batteries (Springwise)
The world’s heavy industries remain vital to the global economy yet are very difficult to decarbonise. One factor contributing to the sector’s emissions is the energy needed to transport large quantities of heavy raw materials …
Continue readingHS2’s huge carbon savings with modular viaduct design (RailUK)
HS2 today revealed the final designs for the Thame Valley Viaduct and the pioneering pre-fabricated construction methods that will see the 880m long structure slotted together like a giant Lego set, cutting its carbon footprint …
Continue readingMonday’s Friday Reads – April 11 2022
• Russians gone, Kyiv revives, including transport system (NYTimes) • Jubilee night Tube May return, more lines to follow (RailUK) • Moving San Francisco: evolution of its public transport video (PBS) • New Zealand fully …
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