U.S. and European startups are racing to develop new batteries using two abundant, cheap materials — sodium and sulfur — that could reduce China’s battery dominance, ease looming supply bottlenecks and lead to mass-market electric …
Continue readingAuthor: Long Branch Mike
Travelling smart in Genoa: Hitachi Rail’s MaaS mobility project (TheEngineer)
A pioneering new approach to city transport is being trialled in Genoa. Andrew Wade travelled to Italy to experience it up close. Smart mobility is a concept most people living in UK cities will be …
Continue readingMonday’s Friday Reads – 2 January 2023
• Secrets of Clapham South deep-level shelter: video (HiddenLondonHangouts) • The Shakespeare Tube Map by TfL (Mapway) • Cool contemporary Thameside sculpture (TidalThames) • Andy Burnham calls for London-style public transport for Manchester (Standard) • …
Continue readingIncreasing Thames freight deliveries could cut traffic & pollution (CitiesToday)
A new report from the UK’s Thames Estuary Growth Board has touted the untapped potential for freight deliveries on London’s primary river, the Thames. The report, Light Freight on the River Thames, claims the river can be better utilised …
Continue readingNew Year’s Eve’s Eve Reads – 30 December 2022
• Dicken’s Mr Micawber’s part in TfL’s new business plan (OnLondon) • Sounds of the Night Riviera train: audio (RadioLento) • Love the Rail Mail train ride? Here’s a Maginot Line ammo train ride: LOUD …
Continue readingHolistic design concepts force rethink of train interiors for sustainability (RailwayGazette)
PriestmanGoode has unveiled Green Carriage, a collection of train interior design concepts developed to ’push boundaries for greener systems and processes across the entire interior, rethinking what a future interior can be’. Continue reading
Continue readingAmazon launches more e-cargo bike hubs in London & Manchester (FutureTransport)
Amazon has expanded its UK e-cargo bike fleet with the launch of three additional micromobility delivery hubs in Manchester and London. This launch is part of a five-year investment of over 1 billion EUR (866 million GBP) …
Continue reading£225m DART Luton Airport rail link delayed until 2023 (LutonToday)
The pioneering £225m Luton direct air-rail transit (DART) has suffered another delay, ending hopes of carrying its first passengers this year. Luton DART is a major local investment project by the borough council and the …
Continue readingBoxing Day Reads – 26 December 2022
• Biggest UK government intervention ever to keep rail fares low (RailUK) • The Caledonian Sleeper experience: video (GLovesTrains) • Too much fine dust in Brussels – 50kmh speed limit & STIB free on Saturdays …
Continue readingFriday Reads – 23 December 2022
• More rail strikes announced for just after Christmas (IanVisits) • London’s fix for air pollution: making drivers pay (CityLab) • Where it’s at! A two track turntable and a railway station (EuroGunzel) • NYC …
Continue readingTfL publishes average bus dwell times (CLondoner92)
TfL Publishes Average Dwell Times for New Routemasters (All-Door & Open Boarding) To Compare With Other Bus Types in London It’s been a while since I posted an article on my website and some of …
Continue readingNorth American rail freight is courting disaster (Vice)
‘It’s Going to End Up Like Boeing’: How Freight Rail Is Courting Catastrophe – Workers are sounding the alarm that drastic cuts in employees and maintenance in order to increase profits are tempting fate. Just …
Continue readingMini-TBMs could dig future tunnels more efficiently (Wired)
FOR DECADES, ENGINEERS seeking to build tunnels underground have relied on huge tube-like machines armed with a frightening array of cutting wheels at one end—blades that eat dirt for breakfast. These behemoths, called tunnel-boring machines, or TBMs, are …
Continue readingMonday’s Friday Reads – 19 December 2022
• Lessons learnt from Crossrail’s development (NewCivilEng) • Scotland according to ScotRail’s automated station announcements (JonnElledge) • TfL’s 4 categories of Underground stations – not what you think: video (JagoHazzard) • Experiencing the Caledonian Sleeper: …
Continue readingStudy finds London Underground air contains ultrafine metallic pollution (IanVisits)
A study into pollution levels on the London Underground has found ultrafine metallic particles small enough to end up in the human bloodstream, although the study also notes that it’s not clear whether these particles pose a …
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