Golden Week in China has always been a national ritual of movement, most often compared to Thanksgiving in the USA. Highways fill, train stations hum, and the country seems to breathe in and out in rhythm with its people heading home or out to see the country. It has also … [continued]
The EU should mandate ticket sharing and competitor display in upcoming law to make rail a more attractive and competitive option. The difficulties of booking train tickets across separate rail operators are turning away many long-distance travellers. Almost two thirds of long-distance rail travellers (61%) have avoided using trains due … [continued]
China continues to lead the world forward in cleantech. We are not in the 1990s anymore, Toto. China is launching the biggest and the best in tech week after week. This week, news from the country is that it is trialling the fastest bullet train in the world. (Thanks to … [continued]
General Motors’ decision to end development of its next generation Hydrotec fuel cells for vehicles did not come as a surprise. It marked the close of a long, careful experiment. After years of research, pilot programs, and cautious optimism, GM finally acknowledged what the energy math had been showing for … [continued]
Transit death spirals do not start with a single dramatic event. They begin when operating gaps push agencies to trim frequency, defer maintenance, and raise fares, which in turn push riders away and deepen the hole. It is not inevitable. It is, however, on a short clock. Preventing service collapse … [continued]
The Trump administration’s October 2025 decision to cancel $26 billion in clean energy and transportation infrastructure funding came as a surprise only in its breadth. The cuts were rolled out during a federal shutdown and framed by the administration as an act of fiscal prudence, even as they disrupted ongoing … [continued]
Building upon my initial experiences at Climate Week NYC, I shifted from thinking globally to focus on how actions are being taken on the state and city level. While the foolish actions of Trump seem intent on taking the wrong side of history, states are showing leadership. New York is … [continued]
Revisions to VAT (value added tax, or sales tax) for passenger transportation are coming up in Europe, and various organizations are pushing for changes that will make travel by rail more competitive. “The new Youth on Track coalition wants EU decision makers to seize upon the unique chance to boost … [continued]
The US startup Parallel Systems is on the way to commercializing a railcar-based electric train solution, with an assist from the US Department of Energy.
The seemingly effortless execution of the green initiatives was perhaps the most impressive part. Environmental impact was being reduced while the experience was made better and more convenient. It didn’t try to attract massive attention and didn’t come off as greenwashing. It just made sense when you thought about it, but you didn’t have to think about it.
