Australia: Sydney Expects To Launch Their New Metro City Service By August 4 2024

Map of the Sydney Metro City and Southwest

This news is worthy of its own article because I'd like to show that in various parts of the world, their governments are delivering new transport infrastructure to provide new links to residents and visitors.

In New South Wales (NSW), Australia, the state government and Sydney Metro announce their expectations to open their new Metro City service by August 4th 2024.

From Sydney Metro - NSW Government

Target Sydney Metro City launch announced

Sydney is set to experience fast, safe, reliable metro trains through the city next month, with the landmark Sydney Metro City project targeting an opening date of August 4.

The launch is subject to the operator successfully completing trial running exercises, system performance tests and obtaining final regulatory approvals.

British Bus Operator First Bus Confirmed to Trial Arrival’s Single-Deck Electric Bus

I was checking my Twitter feed and a Tweet emerged from Arrival that their single-deck electric bus will be trialled by First Bus.

From Arrival Press Release

LONDON, Feb 22, 2021 — Arrival, the company creating electric vehicles using its radical new technologies, today announced that it will begin trials of its zero-emission Bus with First Bus, one of the UK’s largest transport operators. The trials, which will see Arrival buses navigating existing First Bus routes in the UK, will begin this Autumn. The new partnership comes just seven months after First Bus announced their commitment to purchase no diesel buses after 2022 and to operate a fully zero- emission fleet by 2035.

London Bus Tender Awards for January 2020, three door buses for Singapore and ADL-BYD announce EV chassis factory for the UK

First of all, Happy New Year to my readers.

We have the first London Bus tender awards of this year. It has announced the three-door, two-staircase hybrid New Routemasters will prolong operation on route 313 as part of the new contract awarded to Arriva London.

London Buses follow various cities worldwide on restricting front door boarding during Covid-19 pandemic

It has been a while since I’ve posted a new article on my website so here’s the recent news update for London Buses.

After the tragic deaths of 21 London Transport workers, including 15 bus drivers from the Coronavirus, bus union ‘Unite’ has pressured TfL to restrict boarding to middle doors only to maintain social distancing between drivers and passengers.

Transport news roundup for February 2020 – Electric buses for Los Angeles & stylish biogas buses for Bristol

This is a selection of various transport news which occured during the month of February 2020.

First of all, my prediction turned out to be correct in a article I wrote back in November 2019 when Tower Transit won routes 23 and C3; I expected them to use Optare Metrodecker EVs for their new route contracts.

New York City MTA withdraws iconic RTS buses from service

Looking at London’s sister... that other global city called New York City in the United States of America; The New York City Transport authority MTA has withdrawn their iconic RTS buses after nearly 40 years in service.

I know this news is a bit overdue but I've only recently become aware of the event.

Singapore LTA orders 50 three-door, two-staircase Tri-axle Enviro500 buses

The Singaporean Land Transport Agency has awarded S$34 million (GBP £19 million) to Alexander Dennis to build 50 Tri-axle Enviro500 buses with three doors and two staircases.

Extracts from Land Transport Agency

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded the tender to procure 100 three-door double-deck Euro 6 diesel buses to two tenderers - Alexander Dennis (Singapore) Services Pte. Ltd. and ST Engineering Land Systems Ltd. Details of the awarded contracts are as follows:

Refurbished trains for the New York City’s Subway E Line

Looking at the transport news in America, I found that in New York City, the MTA has invested to refurbish their E Line subway trains.

From MTA press release

Fare Hikes around the world as TfL freezes fares for 4 years!

Back in February 2015, I published an article about fare rises on various public transport services around the world.

As London Transport fares are frozen for four years, with the exception of Travelcards, Pay-as-You-Go caps and National Rail fares; I have reproduced some articles below covering transport fare rises from around the world - mostly from the United States.

Singapore: Lush Green for their buses

Back in Singapore, LTA (Land Transport Authority) have announced that 'Lush Green' has been voted for by the public as the new colour for their bus liveries. This is a quick news update from my previous article.

From LTA Press release

The votes are in! Singapore has chosen Lush Green for the new unified livery for the Singapore Bus. It was a close call with Lush Green edging out Bright Red by just 144 votes in the public voting exercise which ended on 5 February 2016. In total, 57,505 valid votes were cast in the one-month voting period.

USA: Chicago orders new trains for their system

Some news just in from America. In Chicago, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has awarded a contract for CSR Sifang America JV to build new trains for their system.

From CTA Press release

CTA Chooses Manufacturer for Newest-Generation Rail Cars

CSR Sifang America proposal will create 170 jobs; Company will build new, $40 million assembly facility in Chicago.

The Chicago Transit Board today awarded a contract for the newest generation of CTA rail cars—the 7000-series—continuing the unprecedented modernization of the CTA under Mayor Rahm Emanuel while fostering economic development and job creation in Chicago.

USA: NYC MTA buses to be upgraded with wi-fi and USB charging ports

Nova LFS Rigid

Over in the United States, the MTA, a New York City public transport service is to invest to upgrade their bus fleet with free Wi-Fi, information screens and USB charging ports. The investment will also include new buses for their fleet.

From MTA Press release

Governor Cuomo Announces Significant Upgrade of MTA Bus Fleet, With More Than 2,000 New State-of-the-Art Buses to be Added Over Next 5 Years

New Technology to Dramatically Enhance Customer Experience – Including Wi-Fi, USB Charging Ports, and Digital Information Screens

Reports on electric buses around the world

BYD eBus in New York City

Around the world many transport services are purchasing the Zero emission battery electric buses, whilst TFL in London are purchasing another 200 three door two staircase hybrid buses called the New Routemaster. I gave some quick updates on the situation with the electric buses in London in my recent article.

Here are some news reports of the electric buses from around the world. I know some may be a week or two old, but still, news is news.

St. Albert, Canada

St. Albert Gazette

Electric buses hit road this fall

St. Albert has become one of the first places in Canada to add an electric bus to its transit fleet.

City council announced this week that it had purchased three long-range battery electric transit buses for its transit fleet. The actual decision was made during the in camera portion of the Feb. 22 council meeting.