Features

Analytical, insightful and topical write-ups on major trends and developments

• Social cards in Russia: Progress from regional to national [free access]

  April 1, 2011
  Introduced over a decade ago, the Moscow social card has created an example of aligning social and economic benefits with smartcards.

• Africa’s bus rapid transit systems: Demonstrating success, raising hopes

  March 1, 2011
  Bus rapid transit (BRT) is emerging as a viable public transport solution for cities across Africa.

• Lima Metro, Peru: Pioneering urban rail development in the country

  March 1, 2011
  Peru has embarked on an ambitious project of expanding Lima’s urban rail network, commonly referred to as Tren Eléctrico or the Lima metro.

• Japan HSR: Expanding domestic network, increasing global presence [free access]

  March 1, 2011
  With about five decades of high-speed rail development experience, Japanese bullet train operators continue to set new benchmarks at home and gain foothold in the international market.

• Tangier - Casablanca HSR: Rail at high-speed in Morocco [free access]

  February 1, 2011
  Morocco is making rapid strides in the development of a high-speed rail (HSR) network.

• Urban Transport in MENA: Overcoming challenges and preparing for the future

  February 1, 2011
  Most countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have announced substantial investments in the public transport sector while others are planning public transportation development programmes to meet the demands of growing urbanisation.

• EIB Funding in Public Transport: The bank plays a key role

  February 1, 2011
  The European Investment Bank (EIB) plays a critical role in transport infrastructure development worldwide, particularly in Europe.

• Corporatising bus services in Delhi, India: Bus cluster model

  January 1, 2011
  In December 2010, Arvinder Singh Lovely, Transport Minister of the Delhi government, announced a detailed plan for the phasing out of Blueline buses and the introduction of privately operated buses in the national capital.

• Revamping transport infrastructure: Quito to invest USD2.4 billion [free access]

  January 1, 2011
  Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is getting ready to revamp its transport infrastructure.

• Enhancing rail communications: Implementation of technologies in 2010

  January 1, 2011
  The use of advanced mass-transit technologies and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) has become prominent over the past few years.

• Qatar’s public transport projects: Investment opportunities waiting to be tapped

  December 1, 2010
  With Qatar winning the bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2022, its extensive transport infrastructure improvement plans have received a boost.

• Update on high-speed rail in the US: Second round of awards [free access]

  December 1, 2010
  As most countries of the world achieve new landmarks in high-speed rail (HSR), the world’s biggest economy, the US, with a gross domestic product of over USD14 trillion, has made little progress in laying the ground for HSR network development.

• Metrobus, Panamá: Plans to overhaul the existing bus transport system

  December 1, 2010
  Panamá City’s public transportation network is receiving a much-needed overhaul.

• New technologies: Advanced features in rolling stock for greater efficiency

  November 1, 2010
  Rolling stock technologies for mass transit have come a long way since steam locomotives, trams and diesel buses.

• Metrobús, Mexico City: Leading by example [free access]

  November 1, 2010
  Mexico’s first bus rapid transit (BRT) system, Metrobús, which was launched five years ago, has been a trendsetter for public transport projects in the country.

• Queensland’s transport initiatives: Increasing access to public transport

  November 1, 2010
  The state government of Queensland in Australia is taking its public transport seriously.

• Hong Kong rail infrastructure projects: Network expansion on the anvil

  October 1, 2010
  Among all the available modes of transport, rail has been identified as key to Hong Hong’s future transit system.

• DB acquires Arriva: Beginning of consolidation in Europe [free access]

  October 1, 2010
  One of the most strategic acquisitions in the European transport market was completed on August 27, 2010, when Germany-based rail operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) finalised its GBP1.6-billion takeover of the UK-based bus and rail operator Arriva.

• The Tshwane Bus Rapid Transit System: Attempts towards building a lasting legacy

  October 1, 2010
  South Africa is on the move to upgrade its transport infrastructure with the announcement of its second bus rapid transit (BRT) system in the city of Tshwane, the first one being at Johannesburg.

• Dubai Metro: Leading the way in the Middle East

  September 1, 2010
  The Middle East’s first metro rail project, the Dubai metro, has set the stage for developing rail-based metro systems in the Gulf region.