Rail might correctly consider itself the greenest transport mode, but there is nevertheless plenty railways can do to decarbonise – not least by doing away with diesel as the primary fuel to power trains on …
Continue readingCategory: Sustainability
Siemens Mobility launches Mireo battery train (RailwayTechnology)
Siemens Mobility, a separately-managed firm of Siemens, has unveiled the Mireo Plus B battery train to the public for the first time at the InnoTrans event in Berlin, Germany. In 2020, the company secured a contract for the …
Continue readingHitachi Rail unveils tri-mode battery hybrid train (RailUK)
Hitachi Rail has unveiled its new ‘Blues Train’ at InnoTrans 2022. Built for Trenitalia, the cutting-edge battery hybrid train will reduce carbon emissions and fuel consumption by 50% and has the ability to arrive at …
Continue readingHow railways can phase out diesel with HVO & possibly hydrogen (RailTech)
HVO fuel and a future hydrogen combustion engine will both play a role in reducing rail emissions. “We can replace old vehicles with new sustainable trains, however we also need to do something to reduce …
Continue readingCities’ incentives to coax residents to swap cars for e-bikes (Axios)
Cities, states, and major companies are racing to give people incentives to switch to electric bikes for their work commute or gadding about town — experiments they hope will reduce car traffic and improve people’s …
Continue readingLong, winding road toward more circular tires (GreenBiz)
Ventures focused on circular economy advances haven’t historically represented a sexy funding category, but December and early January brought the closing of two high-profile investment infusions: $55 million for AMP Robotics, which is using artificial …
Continue readingSolar bus kit for European market unveiled (Bus-News)
Sono Motors has unveiled its Solar Bus Kit to help public transportation companies reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The retrofit solution was unveiled at the company’s ‘Celebrate the Sun’ event in Munich, which …
Continue readingChicago commuter rail pursuing zero emission battery locos (MassTransit)
A first-of-its-kind plan to convert older Metra locomotives into battery-powered ones has been approved by the Metra Board of Directors. The commuter railroad that serves the Chicago area first issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) in …
Continue readingNetwork Rail & EDF Renewables UK partner for greener railway (RailwayTechnology)
Network Rail has announced a solar power agreement with EDF Renewables UK to achieve a greener railway network for Britain. The energy will be procured from EDF Renewables UK’s Bloy’s Grove solar farm in Norfolk. The site was …
Continue readingTokyu Railways go full steam ahead on sustainability (RailwayTechnology)
As much of Japan lags behind in its transition to green energy, the Tokyo-based operator continues its efforts to decarbonise. In 2019, Tokyu Railways became the first Japanese rail business to join RE100, a global …
Continue reading1st UK tri-mode locomotive to be delivered next year (RailwayGazette)
The bodyshell for the first of the Class 93 tri-mode electric-diesel-battery locomotives ordered by Rail Operations (UK) has been completed at Stadler’s factory at Valencia in Spain. ‘This is a project of firsts’, said Iñigo …
Continue readingFriday Reads – 5 August 2022
• Heathrow bans short-haul tickets to alleviate flight problems (BBC) • HS2 building tunnel under Euston for the Underground (IanVisits) • New trial to detect drivers on mobile phones in Warwickshire (BBC) • Germans want …
Continue readingCan battery recycling & geothermal lithium solve the supply crunch? (GreenBiz)
Analysts warn that a lithium supply chain crunch could come as soon as 2023 — and put a potential damper on U.S. vehicle electrification goals. Five- to tenfold growth is expected in the global lithium battery market …
Continue readingMonday’s Friday Reads – 1 August 2022
• How to prevent more European transport heatwave meltdowns (Wired) • Bollardology: History & taxonomy of London street bollards: Book review (LondonHistorians) • Lightning takes out catenary & disrupts Ottawa LRT line (Trains) • Delta …
Continue readingFriday Reads – 22 July 2022
• UK Court orders Gov’t to explain how it will reach Net Zero targets (Guardian) • Some thoughts & history on the Johnston Memorial at Farringon (DougRose) • World’s most unconventional rail line? Zurich’s S10 …
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