The French government is to prioritise investment at key rail hubs outside Paris. Reflecting what Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne terms ‘a national priority’ to improve access to rail services outside the Paris region, €2·6bn is …
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Seattle’s trackless trolley electric backbone (RouteFifty)
When transportation planners drool over the Emerald City’s transit successes, they shouldn’t overlook the decades of investments in this legacy asset. In transportation circles, the word “trolley” can sometimes come with decades-old reputational baggage. Getting …
Continue reading2nd crack found at SFO Transbay Transit Center (SFGate)
San Francisco’s new Transbay Transit Center will remain closed at least through the end of next week, officials said Wednesday, after yet another cracked beam was discovered during an overnight safety inspection. The $2.2 billion …
Continue readingFriday Reads – 28 September 2018
Welcome to Reconnections’ Friday Reads: • When poetry, light & warmth advertised the Tube (EthicalGirl) • The wonderful world of off-peak London (MappingLondon) • Chat with Mark Ovenden, World Metro Maps author (GeoffMarshall) • Five …
Continue readingMTR Crossrail creates virtual reality stations for training (Railway-Technology)
The operator of London’s upcoming Elizabeth Line has developed a platform that allows trainee staff to hone their safety and security skills in a virtual train station. In this Q&A, MTR Crossrail finance director Andy …
Continue readingWorld Metro ridership league table (UITP)
Metros are of critical importance for mobility, as societies are becoming ever more urbanised. At the end of 2017, there were metros in 182 cities in 56 countries, carrying on average a total of 168 …
Continue readingTime & money savings in King Street Transit Pilot (CityBuildingInst)
With the King Street Transit Pilot coming to its official end this fall, we’re all taking stock of the project’s results. Overall, the pilot has been a positive success. We know from data released by …
Continue readingGlobal mass transit revolution bypassing US (CityLab)
The world is building mass transit networks faster than ever before, and ridership is increasing to match. But the United States continues to lag behind both Asia and Europe in mass transit. New York is …
Continue readingFriday Reads – 21 September 2018
Welcome to Reconnections’ Friday Reads: • Choo Choo Chat on Crossrail with John Bull (GeoffMarshall) • Green number plates to boost electric cars sales (Guardian) • France’s TGV expansion takes new direction (CityLab) • UPS …
Continue readingMelbourne Airport Rail Link seeks partners (GlobalRailNews)
Government agency Rail Projects Victoria (RPV) has begun the search for companies to help deliver the Melbourne Airport Rail Link. Launching the registrations of interest (ROI) process on September 12, RPV said it will help …
Continue readingRolls-Royce to test electric-hybrid trains in UK (Independent)
Hundreds of hybrid-electric trains could roll out on Britain’s railways from the 2020s. Famed British manufacturer Rolls-Royce has signed a deal to test electric-hybrid trains on UK railways. The deal with UK firm Porterbrook could …
Continue readingFirst battery train trip in 60 years (InterestingEngineering)
The first battery-powered train in Europe for more than 60 years has taken its maiden voyage in Berlin. Re-introduced by Canadian company Bombardier, the electric-hybrid train hosted local government representative and the federal commissioner for …
Continue readingDresden setting up 76 mobility hubs this fall (PhysOrg)
Dresden, the state capital of Saxony, Germany wants to set up 76 mobility hubs in the city area. At these stations, users can quickly switch between environmental friendly and city-friendly means of transport such as …
Continue readingBART replacing gates to reduce fare cheating (SFChronicle)
BART is looking at a new solution to the widespread fare evasion problem that siphons off up to $25 million a year: replacing the orange, pie-wedge gates that have defined the system for decades. It’s …
Continue readingFriday Reads – 14 September 2018
Welcome to Reconnections’ Friday Reads: • London’s Rail and Tube Services map in Beck style (Inat) • Why don’t people give up seats on transport? (BBC) • Cities become more sustainable & inclusive with data …
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