A new Virginia law will allow judges to require intelligent speed assistance devices for people with repeat reckless driving offenses. Advocates are pushing for similar policies in other states. In Brief: Last month, a driver …
Continue readingAuthor: Long Branch Mike
Faster US Passenger Rail: A Future of Rapid Service Study (Archyde)
New Study Proposes Rail Modernization Plan to Cut Commute Times Across America A groundbreaking study, Momentum, from NYU’s Marron Institute, unveils a pragmatic plan to revitalize U.S. passenger rail by focusing on strategic upgrades to …
Continue readingAn e-bike that charges off USB-C (TheVerge)
Ampler made one of the first modern e-bikes I ever tested, and now it’s selling the first commercial electric bikes — the Nova and Nova Pro — I’m aware of that can be charged over a USB-C port …
Continue readingThe rise of the heavy-lift cargo drone (TheEngineer)
Unmanned heavy-lift cargo drones could reshape the world of air freight. Jon Excell talks to Dronamics, one of the firms at the forefront of this aviation frontier. Disruptive innovations often have the most unlikely origin stories. In the case …
Continue readingSpecial test event for Great Western Railway’s fast-charge battery trial (RailUK)
A special test event saw 250 volunteers board Great Western Railway’s battery train to help provide valuable insight for its industry-leading trial. The ‘High Passenger Load’ operation tested energy consumption and will form part of …
Continue readingTranspennine Route Upgrade Work & Electrification Ramps Up: Video (RailFocus)
This video looks at the progress that has been made in and around Huddersfield station, and looks at the upcoming closure of the route through Huddersfield. Transpennine Route Upgrade Work & Electrification progress video
Continue readingNew Flyer have cracked the electric bus market. How did they do it? (ElectricAutonomy)
Many companies are having mixed experiences in Canada’s EV ecosystem lately, but (at least from the outside) Winnipeg-based New Flyer Industries doesn’t seem to be one of them. To industry spectators, New Flyer — a …
Continue readingSwitzerland, where the Post still takes the train (Mediarail)
Swiss Post has long relied on rail transport for the delivery of letters and parcels. Switzerland has become a virtual exception, while in other European countries, “small parcels” and mail no longer travel by train …
Continue readingScotRail Begins Trials of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil – HVO – fuel (Railway-News)
ScotRail has begun trialling Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) as an alternative to diesel in one of its Class 156 train units. The trial was initiated on 19 February, and is set to run for 12 …
Continue readingPlans Submitted for the Future Modernised Cardiff Central Railway Station (TfW)
The full business case for the proposed improvements at Cardiff Central station was submitted at the end of last year and planning documents will be submitted soon. The delivery of the scheme is subject to …
Continue readingWest London Orbital: Progress & Feasibility (Permanent Way Institute – PWI)
We [DEM Overground] have been working with Network Rail who have undertaken timetable assessment, traction power modelling, and internal sponsorship activities for the scheme. To read the Technical Presentation To watch the West London Orbital …
Continue readingRenewable Energy-On-Rails Scheme To Cure Transmission Line Blues (CleanTechnica)
Renewable energy developers in the US are facing a bottleneck of epic proportions as they jockey for limited space on the nation’s aging network of long distance transmission lines. Building new transmission infrastructure would help, …
Continue readingExpensive, slow battery locomotives have no place on already electrified rails (EffectiveTransitAlliance)
The MTA’s vote on Wednesday to buy experimental battery locomotives for Penn Station Access [2] (PSA) is fiscally irresponsible, and threatens to hamstring our regional rail network’s ability to deliver frequent, fast, and reliable service …
Continue readingNetwork Rail trials helicopter surveys to spot failures before they happen (IMechE)
The unique perspective provided by a bird’s eye view can often reveal issues that go unnoticed on the ground, giving engineers an opportunity to spot potential failures before they happen. Network Rail took advantage of …
Continue readingMidlands Connect rail link could save over 13 million minutes a year (RailBusinessDaily)
Leicester’s City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby joined Midlands Connect and business leaders to pledge their support for the proposed rail link between Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham. At the meeting, at the station, attendees were told that 13.5 …
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