Urban Transport News

Transport news

Shanghai • Latest Metro updates now on TV • 1-Mar • Shanghai Daily The city's Metro operators have joined STV to launch a three-minute program at 7:10 and 8:10 from Monday to Friday to provide real time information on service delays or suspensions. Suggestion for alternatives will be given if a station is overcrowded.
Shanghai • City readies air-quality safeguards during Expo • 27-Feb • Shanghai Daily Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau yesterday released a World Expo air-quality plan. It sets the government on course to especially monitor power plants, major industries like steel and chemical production, boilers, vehicles, restaurants and the burning of hay and rice stalks within 300 kilometers from the World Expo zone. On days when poor air quality threatens to becloud the World Expo, the city will order big power plants and high-polluting industries to switch to low-sulfur coal, shut small-engine generators, halt paint spraying and stop construction that kicks up lots of dirt.
Jakarta • Fauzi proposes basing parking fees on traffic levels • 23-Feb • Jakarta Post The Jakarta city government is planning to introduce a zoning system for parking fees, in a move intended to help control traffic congestion, based on traffic densities of different parts of the city.
Sydney • Fixers twisted metro files • 17-Feb • Sydney Morning Herald Bureaucrats and political fixers inside the NSW state transport agencies have altered official reports as part of a widespread government effort to suppress criticism of its controversial $5.3 billion CBD Metro. A Herald investigation has discovered official documents, including some marked cabinet-in-confidence, have been suppressed to bury embarrassing but crucial technical advice that undermines the case for the metro. In key technical reports, assumptions supporting the metro have been manipulated to make other options look less attractive.
USA • Cities Prepare for Life With the Electric Car • 14-Feb • New York Times San Francisco is leading a push to accommodate electric cars in major cities in the US.
Xiamen • Kinglong 18-meter Buses to Serve Xiamen BRT • 10-Feb • Chinabuses.com 15 of the 18m BRT buses are being planned for Xiamen's crowded BRT, though station doors will need to reconfigured before these buses can be used.
Brisbane • Brisbane bus system set for major shake-up • 10-Feb • Brisbane Times Brisbane's bus system is set to undergo a major overhaul, with route changes and an additional 20,000 seats made available for commuters.
Guangzhou • Guangzhou BRT to open tomorrow; free for first 10 days • 9-Feb • Xinkuaibao
Guangzhou • Historic GZ Roads • 8-Feb • Life of Guangzhou
Bangkok • B2bn bus scheme ready for April trial • 6-Feb • Bangkok Post Bangkok's 2-billion-baht Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, air-conditioned buses on dedicated lanes, is likely to open on May 15, after a trial starting in April. The system will stretch 15.9km from Chong Nonsi to the intersection between Ratchadaphisek and Ratchaphruek roads, and comprise 12 bus stops.

Shanghai • Latest Metro updates now on TV • 1-Mar • Shanghai Daily The city's Metro operators have joined STV to launch a three-minute program at 7:10 and 8:10 from Monday to Friday to provide real time information on service delays or suspensions. Suggestion for alternatives will be given if a station is overcrowded.

Shanghai • City readies air-quality safeguards during Expo • 27-Feb • Shanghai Daily Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau yesterday released a World Expo air-quality plan. It sets the government on course to especially monitor power plants, major industries like steel and chemical production, boilers, vehicles, restaurants and the burning of hay and rice stalks within 300 kilometers from the World Expo zone. On days when poor air quality threatens to becloud the World Expo, the city will order big power plants and high-polluting industries to switch to low-sulfur coal, shut small-engine generators, halt paint spraying and stop construction that kicks up lots of dirt.

Jakarta • Fauzi proposes basing parking fees on traffic levels • 23-Feb • Jakarta Post The Jakarta city government is planning to introduce a zoning system for parking fees, in a move intended to help control traffic congestion, based on traffic densities of different parts of the city.

Sydney • Fixers twisted metro files • 17-Feb • Sydney Morning Herald Bureaucrats and political fixers inside the NSW state transport agencies have altered official reports as part of a widespread government effort to suppress criticism of its controversial $5.3 billion CBD Metro. A Herald investigation has discovered official documents, including some marked cabinet-in-confidence, have been suppressed to bury embarrassing but crucial technical advice that undermines the case for the metro. In key technical reports, assumptions supporting the metro have been manipulated to make other options look less attractive.

USA • Cities Prepare for Life With the Electric Car • 14-Feb • New York Times San Francisco is leading a push to accommodate electric cars in major cities in the US.

Xiamen • Kinglong 18-meter Buses to Serve Xiamen BRT • 10-Feb • Chinabuses.com 15 of the 18m BRT buses are being planned for Xiamen's crowded BRT, though station doors will need to reconfigured before these buses can be used.

Brisbane • Brisbane bus system set for major shake-up • 10-Feb • Brisbane Times Brisbane's bus system is set to undergo a major overhaul, with route changes and an additional 20,000 seats made available for commuters.

Guangzhou • Guangzhou BRT to open tomorrow; free for first 10 days • 9-Feb • Xinkuaibao

Guangzhou • Historic GZ Roads • 8-Feb • Life of Guangzhou

Bangkok • B2bn bus scheme ready for April trial • 6-Feb • Bangkok Post Bangkok's 2-billion-baht Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, air-conditioned buses on dedicated lanes, is likely to open on May 15, after a trial starting in April. The system will stretch 15.9km from Chong Nonsi to the intersection between Ratchadaphisek and Ratchaphruek roads, and comprise 12 bus stops.