RTIG’s Post

This is a long awaited and much needed improvement in bus service. Hopefully the combination of on-demand options can fill in the mobility gaps. Next comes the electrification of the system and expanded BRT routes. These types of improvements will save the system money, especially compared with failed experiments in Streecar wannabeism.

65% growth - yes you read that right In predominantly rural territory too. This is what can happen when you take a systematic approach to a long distance bus route upgrade. It’s about more than replacing an old diesel bus with a new electric bus and giving yourself a pat on the back- it’s about using the opportunity for: - a carefully planned and thought through approach to fares and the timetable - high spec interiors for the vehicles - targeted promotions I’ve been on it and it is a prime example of how the more can be greater than the sum of the parts. It’s also an indicator of what can be achieved through public control of buses in Wales.

The Committee for Sydney has put out an excellent report on the importance of buses for Sydney's future transport needs. As a Western Sydneysider, I rely on buses to get around, and the truth is it's often barely quicker than walking if your start and end locations are off the main routes. And the off-peak ones too often just don't show. The recommendations in this report are spot on. Each transport mode (even cars) has a role to play, but buses: 1. Can easily be rerouted, or services altered, to deal with changing needs 2. Are usually cheaper to run per passenger-km 3. Have a lot of potential for automation in years to come And don't get the attention they deserve. https://lnkd.in/gV4xdekt

A pretty good objective report about the transfer of SY Supertram into public operation appeared in the Railway Gazette. 👇 https://lnkd.in/eqMebQdZ Back in January 2024 South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority had said: “….the 25 Siemens–Düwag trams built for the opening of the Sheffield light rail network in 1994 are suffering from underframe corrosion, and the refurbishment is likely to involve removal of most of the interiors and underframe equipment, including the wooden floors. Additional electrical and mechanical improvements and repairs are planned to take advantage of the vehicles being stripped down.” I really support the proposal for a life extension of the tram fleet. A more practical approach than an attempt to get funding for a whole new fleet right now. It is important to mention a key ingredient here, which is the expressed desire of the Mayor and SYMCA to better integrate the tram into a SY transport network. Short term there has been pain caused by the loss of Stagecoach bus/tram integrated ticketing, but things may change if the Mayor is successful in driving through franchising of buses, which will give much greater control over the bus network and that ability to provide connections into the tram. Commercial pressures on available finance will still mean a limit to what can be done but it is a worthwhile mission to try to improve integration. Everywhere I go in western Europe, it is seamless. It just seems so incredibly difficult in the UK to deliver “seamless” with trains, buses and trams all under different ownership and with wildly different priorities.

Can a bus drive on tracks? 🚍 In Adelaide, #Australia, the O-Bahn Busway can do just that! This unique busway combines the convenience of buses with the efficiency of a rail system. It’s not your average bus route — it’s a 12-kilometer dedicated track where buses reach speeds of up to 100 km/h (60 mph). 👉 Introduced in 1986, it connects Adelaide’s northeastern suburbs to the city center, replacing a previous #tramway plan. 🚧 It features specially built concrete tracks that buses can drive through, allowing them to continue on regular roads when needed. In case of breakdowns, a vehicle known as ‘Dumbo’ is used to tow buses from the O-Bahn, ensuring minimal disruption to service. Video credits: 0blivious_n0   _ _ _ 👍 Like if you find value, re-post ♻️, and follow for more interesting tech, and innovation insights.

It is the end of the line for Glasgow's 44-year-old subway cars, as the last old-style trains travel the underground loop for the final time. The city's subway has been gradually phasing out the old trains since December and replacing them with new wheelchair-accessible modern cars. In total 17 trains have been gradually brought into service during 2024. The new rolling stock is just one part of a £288m upgrade programme to the subway system that will feature platform doors and driverless trains in future. Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), which operates the subway, said the two final trains were completing an estimated 2.6million miles each in passenger service - 400,600 loops of the system. The old-style trains were introduced to passenger service on 16 April 1980 as part of the system's second modernisation project, which started in May 1977. Glasgow's Subway, often dubbed the 'Clockwork Orange' due to its striking orange colour and single loop design, has undergone its third modernisation since 2012. This included a refurbishment of all 15 stations, a new smart ticketing system, new rolling stock (trains), and a new signalling, communication and control-room system being introduced. The third-generation trains also have the capability to be driverless, which the operator aims to introduce in the future. SPT will also introduce platform screen doors to station platforms, as part of the £288m upgrades. Read more ➡️ https://buff.ly/3W0UGj7 The Scottish Chambers of Commerce Network is here to support your business - reach out to share your views, concerns and opportunities. #SCCnews #businesssupport #businessnetwork #businessvoice #businessleader Sign up for the Scottish Chambers of Commerce enewsletter at https://buff.ly/3CpsQnu

Remarks are right on target. The US must start an initiative to integrate rail transportation services with other transit services for seamless people movements. Key issue is funding for these infrastructure improvements. The US needs to do this along with improvements to ALL infrastructure in ALL communities. That why HR 4052, the creation of the Nation’s fifth National Infrastructure Bank, needs to be debated and approved. This has been done four previous successful times; let’s do it again. #nationalinfrastructurebank

The mobility transition demands more public transport than ever. But with driver shortages across Europe large and growing, how will towns and cities deliver these services in the coming decades? Automated public mobility is emerging as a long-term solution to plan for. Frontrunner cities and public transport authorities in Europe are already beginning to plan for fleets of up to 10,000 vehicles for specific use cases. Understanding the potential and limitations of CCAM for acute mobility challenges will soon be part of every mobility decisionmakers toolbox. Informed by work with Europe's frontrunners, Pendel supports mobility decisionmakers with long-term roadmapping for automated public mobility, helping them understand why, how and when automation will be able solve their biggest mobility challenges. Learn more ➡ https://lnkd.in/dxWQdKjU

Earlier in 2024, Auckland Transport introduced T2 lanes on Te Atatu Rd, in both directions, in a staged delivery. This is primarily to support the huge increase in bus volumes on Te Atatu Rd as part of the NW bus improvements. Public sentiment for these initiatives was not strong, with road users concerned about the impacts on congestion. Despite this feedback, AT went ahead with the changes on the basis of the productivity benefits. As this article shows, the results show benefits to all road users. As well as massive benefits to bus journey times, car users in both directions have also seen benefits. This demonstrates the benefits in sticking to well evidenced principles and evidence based transport planning. Ka pai!

Great to see the roll out of electric buses on the agenda more and more across all states and parties. Good for the environment, good for health, and good for connecting communities! #futuretransport #zeroemissiontransport