New global database on Bus Rapid Transit launched
Three global organisations have teamed up to launch what they claim is the most comprehensive, public database of bus rapid transit (BRT) systems around the world. The new site, http://BRTdata.org, was created by Embarq, the World Resources Institute’s centre for sustainable transport, and the Across Latitudes and Cultures - Bus Rapid Transit Centre of Excellence (ALC-BRT CoE), in collaboration with the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Kapsch equips high speed line in Spain with latest train communication technology
Kapsch CarrierCom has successfully implemented the latest train security and communication technology on the first high speed line in the Galicia region in the North West of Spain. The route between Orense and Santiago covers 87 km of tracks with 29 km of tunnels through a very mountainous area. Kapsch has been the Base Station Subsystem (BSS) GSM-R system turnkey supplier including network design, network integration and optimisation to the project. The company has also supplied all site infrastructure req
Telogis acquires Maptuit assets
Telogis has acquired the assets of Maptuit, a leading provider of connected navigation for commercial fleets. This acquisition, the company’s fifth in three years, expands its services as the market increases adoption of location-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions. Maptuit’s commercial navigation technologies further enhance the Telogis enterprise platform of SaaS solutions, which includes fleet management, navigation, multi-vehicle route optimisation and planning, work order management and mobil
Bosch ESP milestone
Bosch has announced it has manufactured 75 million ESP systems since series production began in 1995 – and in the process made a vital contribution to greater road safety. Especially on slippery roads and when entering a bend too quickly, the electronic stability programme keeps vehicles safely on track. In this way, it prevents skidding accidents, which can often be particularly severe. Summarising the findings of many studies of its effectiveness, Gerhard Steiger, the president of the Bosch Chassis System
Techniques to improve fuel economy by 18.7% in public transit fleets
SmartDrive Systems, a specialist in fleet safety and operational efficiency, has announced the results of its Public Transit Fuel Efficiency Study, which reveals that transit fleets can reduce fuel consumption on average as much as 18.7 per cent, saving nearly US$3,400 per vehicle annually, by engaging in fuel-efficient, eco-driving best practices.
Nissan big turn on to charge up cities across Europe
Cities all over Britain and Europe will be invited to embrace electric driving and encourage their communities to support Nissan’s campaign – ‘The Big Turn On’ – in a bid to win 30 quick chargers from the company. The quick chargers are part of a wider initiative from Nissan to get one million consumers switched onto electric driving, in just 100 days. The basis of the campaign is to engage the public and support their city’s bid to win a new electric driving infrastructure from Nissan. These chargers can r
Nokia Launches real time traffic service in Delhi and Mumbai
Nokia has expanded its location services portfolio in India with the availability of ‘Traffic feature’, a real time traffic service on Nokia smartphones. The service, available to users in Delhi and Mumbai, will be able to deliver comprehensive, real-time traffic information to more than 26 million people in two of the country’s busiest cities. The traffic update is available to users on Symbian smartphones on Nokia Drive, and on Nokia Lumia 800 and Nokia Lumia 710 on Nokia Maps. Upon download the user can
Egis Projects-Sanef consortium sign second major ORT operations contract in Canada
A consortium composed of Egis Projects and Sanef has signed a contract for the operation of the Port Mann Bridge open road tolling (ORT) project in the Metro Vancouver Area, Canada. The largest transportation infrastructure project in British Columbia history, it includes doubling the capacity of the bridge and widening the highway from Vancouver to Langley, a distance of 37 kilometres. Once complete, it will reduce travel times by up to 30 per cent, and save drivers up to an hour a day. The new bridge will
EU/US announce plans for a joint showcase at the ITS World Congress in Vienna.
The United States Department of Transportation ITS Joint Program Office and the European Commission Information Society and Media Information, Communication, and Technology Unit, which have been working together on mutual ITS challenges and opportunities related to connected vehicles, will create a showcase to share their joint work at the ITS World Congress in Vienna, October 22-26, 2012.
Image Sensing Systems strengthens team
Image Sensing Systems has announced that Mark S. Phillips has been appointed as the company's business development manager of CitySync automatic licence plate recognition (ALPR) products for North and South America, reporting to Dan Skites, company VP of sales and marketing. Phillips joins the company from Federal APD, parking – access control and revenue management systems, where he was a regional sales manager of the Southwestern District.
Agreement to develop EV market in Australia
Origin Energy, Australia’s largest energy retailer, and Nissan Motor Company Australia have announced an agreement which will further the development of the electric vehicles market in Australia. Under the terms of the agreement, Origin will be the preferred electro mobility operator (EMO) for the new Nissan Leaf electric vehicle which is scheduled to be launched in Australia in June. This partnership will redefine the electric vehicle customer purchasing and driving experience and help establish electric v
Road accidents in Italy have cost 2% of GDP
According to data by the Italian transport and logistics commission, social costs of road accidents in the country amount to US$39.98 billion, or two per cent of the GDP. The accident rate is still above other EU countries, despite having the strictest set of regulations, and the country has one of the lowest number of infrastructures and among the highest number of vehicles.
Maryland TA seeks approval to spend $19.5 million on E-ZPass transponders from Kapsch
The Maryland Transportation Authority (Maryland TA) in the US will need US$19.5 million to buy new transponders for drivers who use the state's E-ZPass electronic toll collection system, but requires approval from the Board of Public Works. A total of two million transponders will be purchased by Maryland TA from Kapsch TrafficCom which makes the transponders, and they will cost users $9 compared to the original price of $21.
Xerox to help revolutionise parking at Geneva airport
Xerox has won a contract to replace Geneva Airport’s entire parking management system for its 20 parking lots featuring more than 7,000 spaces, including walk-up pay stations, parking guidance and a global monitoring and management system which will connect with the rest of the airport’s computer systems. As part of a ten-year contract, travellers will be also able to receive information about flight delays, gate changes or customised information when they arrive at the airport parking lot.
Significant safety benefits of limiting truck speeds
New research released this week by the US Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration confirms the clear safety benefits of using technology to electronically govern and limit the top speed of commercial trucks. "This study confirms what ATA has been saying for years – speed kills and one of the most effective ways to prevent hundreds, if not thousands, of crashes on our highways is to slow all vehicles down, including large trucks," American Trucking Association’s president and CEO Bill Graves said.
Abu Dhabi unveils new public transport plan
The new public transport plan for Abu Dhabi in the UAE will consist of bus rapid transit (BRT) and two light-rail tram lines, while the planned 130-km railway network has been shortened to 70-km, according to the department of transport (DoT). The first phase of the metro railway is expected to operate by 2020 and it will cover 18km. The metro trains will travel at 80 to 100 km per hour. There will be two light railway lines that cover 40km that will travel at an average speed of 20 km per hour and the BRT
StarTraq business gains in the UK and South Africa
StarTraq, a UK-headquartered offence management software specialist has extended the automated adjudication software services it currently provides to Suffolk Constabulary in the UK for the uploading and verification of traffic offences captured on camera. With the latest upgrade to the company’s new cloud-based service, Suffolk Police will be in a position to take advantage of improved efficiencies as well as extend the service to their neighbouring constabulary in Norfolk.
Hoeft & Wessel delivers first e-Ticket reader to Danish State Railway
The first newly developed inspection devices for e-Tickets, developed by Hoeft & Wessel, have just been delivered to the Danish State Railway (DSB). With a weight of only about 200 grams, the small and ergonomically designed device sets new benchmarks. When e-Ticketing is widely deployed, the conductor´s current mechanical validator will be replaced by electronic ones, which can identify and read RFID tags, writing (OCR) and 2D barcode.
Kapsch wins Innovation Award at Intertraffic in Amsterdam
Kapsch TrafficCom has been awarded the Intertraffic Innovation Award in the Safety category for its new tunnel safety product Automatic Camera Calibration (ACC) at Intertraffic Amsterdam. The new tunnel safety product, ACC, beat numerous other entries to win by virtue of its extraordinary speed, precision, cost-efficient and the unambiguous safety aspect.
High cost of EVs is the biggest turn-off, UK research finds
A high price tag was the biggest disincentive for majority of over a third (37 per cent) of surveyed motorists when it came to considering buying an electric car, a recent survey run by TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk reveals. In second place with 29 per cent was the limited range that electric cars offer compared to conventional, internal combustion engine cars. A lack of charging facilities (20 per cent), concerns about the car’s battery lifespan (11 per cent) and a lack of model choice (three per cent) also co