• Is renationalising more UK train services a viable strategy? (FutureRail) • Politicians’ cries of ‘The War on Cars’ fails to move voters (NewStatesman) • Brussels’ Good Move mobility plan cuts tram & bus delays …
Continue readingAuthor: Long Branch Mike
Electric buses outsell diesels in Europe for first time (ICCT)
For well over one hundred years, the internal combustion engine has reigned supreme over our roads. For one small but significant transport sector, the humble city bus, its reign has neared its end. The most …
Continue readingFriday Reads – 26 May 2023
• England rail passengers could lose WiFi access in DfT cost cuts (Guardian) • How train WiFi works & why it’s under threat in England (Guardian) • Effect of UK sustainable mobility policies on urban …
Continue readingWhy not cover ugly parking lots with solar panels? (Wired)
In France, a plan to cover swaths of asphalt with photovoltaics will bring renewable energy even closer to urban areas where it’s needed. A BACKLASH AGAINST industrial-size solar farms is brewing. At least 75 big solar …
Continue readingPoem on the Opening of the Elizabeth line: First Anniversary
With thanks to Jonathan Baggs MCIPR for this poem and allowing us to republish it on the anniversary of the final stage opening of the Elizabeth line 24 May 2022. Twas the Night before Crossrail, …
Continue readingNYC’s anti-speeding tech could be a road safety breakthrough (Bloomberg)
As US cities and states grapple with surging traffic deaths and underperforming Vision Zero programs, their leaders face a challenge. Although they can take steps like implementing road diets or (if they’re fortunate) installing automatic safety cameras, there is one risk factor that …
Continue readingZero & low emission locomotive: Global roundup (RailwayAge)
By 2050, in accordance with the Paris Climate Agreement, zero-emission locomotives may have completely replaced conventional diesel-powered equipment on the railways of the world. Current development of zero-emission switcher locomotives, combined with practical operating experience, increases …
Continue readingMonday’s Friday Reads – 22 May 2023
• Tuesday is last day to save Day Travelcards (Bus&TrainUser) • Plans for Great British Railways have been watered down by No 10 (TheTimes) • Crossrail tunnel detailed engineering cross-section explained: pg 5 (MottMacDonald) • …
Continue readingFriday Reads – 19 May 2023
• Progress at HS2 Old Oak Common station site as 1st base slab poured (RailUK) • Plans submitted for snaking Silvertown ped & cycle bridge (ConstructionEnq) • France developing next generation, double decker TGVs (CNNTravel) …
Continue readingTransport vs other catastrophic risks: the Farmer’s diagram (RiskEngineering)
Farmer’s diagram, or F-N curve – Represent society’s degree of catastrophe aversion. Overview An F-N diagram, also called a Farmer diagram after the name of the first author to have used this representation, is a graphical representation of …
Continue readingShort-turning strategy could alleviate bus bunching (JAmbientIntel)
Some stops on busy bus lines regularly suffer from bus bunching, which refers to a bus arriving with a little headway to its predecessor. This phenomenon increases scheduling difficulties and has a negative impact on …
Continue readingLithium mining cannot keep up with the pace of EV production (Bloomberg)
The electric car market is driving insatiable demand for lithium. But a supply crisis of the wonder metal could dent the world’s chances of meeting its climate goals. Elon Musk wants to mine it, China is …
Continue readingHAROLD, THOMoS, & PANTHER in Huddersfield (RailEngineer)
In 2019, a network of universities and industry partners concerned with railway research was formed. The UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN) was built on three Centres of Excellence formed by a consortium of …
Continue readingMonday’s Friday Reads – 15 May 2023
• Can nationalisation by stealth save Britain’s railways? (NewStatesman) • 10 year perspective on what has been achieved with London’s cycling (OnLondon) • Modern fare dodgers leave a trail of digital breadcrumbs says Digital Fraud …
Continue readingSupertram upgrade part of fully integrated public transport network (MetroReport)
The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority has started work to establish a framework for the future management of the Supertram light rail network in Sheffield, which is due to be taken over by an arm’s …
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