Billed as ‘the world’s first operational dual-mode vehicle’, the ASA Seaside Railway Corporation in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, is set to launch a new vehicle into service on 25 December. The vehicle is described as ‘essentially …
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4G deal signed for Tube tunnels & stations (IanVisits)
The company rolling out mobile phone coverage on the London Underground has signed its first two commercial contracts, with Three and EE. Although Wi-Fi coverage is available in the stations for all networks except Vodafone, and …
Continue readingLA Metro trialing contactless hot gas tunneling (Wired)
IN THE 1970S, US government researchers imagined digging through rock with a nuclear-powered tunneling machine. They thought this machinery could change the world by traveling through the Earth’s upper mantle like a submarine moves through water, …
Continue readingTrain windows as information displays (GlobalRailway)
With SmartMMI technology, public transport passengers can receive up-to-date information about their journeys – directly on their adjacent train window. SmartWindows is an intelligent data integration system using situational filtering and context-based visualisation of information. …
Continue readingUK rail depot renewable energy project (RailTechnology)
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has strengthened its commitment to sustainability through a new cooperative energy project with climate action group Energy Garden. London’s Streatham Hill depot has been transformed into a local source of renewable …
Continue readingNational Robotarium unveils train cleaning robot (RailBusiness)
Scientists from the National Robotarium, supported by Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh, have unveiled the design of a new train cleaning robot to help existing cleaners. The robot, which is being funded by …
Continue readingIs the future of buses hydrogen or electric? (Wired)
Clean transport needs clean vehicles. New power developments are crucial for a mass transit revolution, and each has pros and cons. FINDING NEW WAYS to power the world’s vehicles has long been a vital component in …
Continue readingAir quality programme introduced to UK railways (RailTechnology)
The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) is helping the rail industry improve air quality across Britain’s railways. Issues around climate change, sustainability and air quality are still hot topics following the conclusion of the …
Continue readingA third of eScooter trips replaced car trips (Forbes)
A survey of e-scooter riders has found that a third of the trips on the micromobility vehicles operated by Neuron Mobility replaced car journeys. The survey was carried out in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Outside …
Continue readingNone of UK’s top 5 congested roads have cycleways (Forbes)
Traffic congestion is caused not by cycleways but by too many cars, trucks and vans. This, one would assume, is blindingly obvious. But not according to many trusted news sources which are today running with …
Continue readingUK rail freight booming due to lorry driver shortage (RailNews)
THE shortage of HGV drivers is causing more businesses to start using rail freight, while existing users are stepping up their requirements. Tesco has been sending 65,000 containers a year by train but is planning …
Continue readingWhen is new tech ahead of its time or just doomed? (OneZero)
When a bunch of techies are beavering away on a new tool, it can be tricky to figure out: Is this a genuinely useful new thing? Or is it just some expensive prototype, a pipe …
Continue readingThe low regrets EV charging network approach (TheEngineer)
We need to make a start on ‘low-regrets’ actions that will make sense on any pathway to net zero, whatever the details of the final plan. In the UK, building an electric vehicle (EV) charging …
Continue readingCoventry Very Light Railway technical talk (Ry&CanalHistSoc)
A talk given at a Railway & Canal Historical Society (RCHS) West Midlands Group meeting on 2nd November 2021. Nicola Small describes plans and progress with a new type of urban rail system which could …
Continue readingWhat happens to used EV batteries? (Wired)
Used electric vehicle batteries could be the Achilles’ heel of the transportation revolution—or the gold mine that makes it real. THIS SUMMER, DIRK Spiers, a tall, rumpled Dutchman-turned-Oklahoman, got a heads-up from General Motors about more problems with …
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