Transp rt News October 2016
Right on Track
The National College for High Speed Rail takes a significant step towards opening its doors.
Plus: Heathrow’s Brexit Boost / Dieselgate 1st Anniversary / Free Rail Passes to Young Europeans / Reducing Traffic Fatalities and Injuries / Don’t Let Your Lunch Be a Crash Diet / No Cap on Airlines’ CO2
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Welcome to the October issue of Transport News INTL. This October edition of Transport News INTL provides a fascinating look at the latest transport news, deals, appointments, research and issues from all around the world. For the first time, we have a special section on road safety. In recent news, the UK’s Road Haulage Association has strong reservations over the proposals outlined by London’s mayor Sadiq Khan, to demand a ban on 35,000 lorries based on the level of vision the driver has in the cab. The RHA is committed to increasing road safety and working with other stakeholders to achieve a zero target for cycling accidents in London, but it believes that measures announced are too simplistic. A new survey by the road safety charity Brake and Direct Line discovered that a third of drivers questioned sometimes eat food behind the wheel. Just over a quarter of people (27%) have unwrapped and eaten food in this manner, and a third (33%) admit to eating food that someone else has unwrapped for them. In other road safety news, over the past 16 months, almost 2,700 drivers in the UK have been stopped for unsafe driving by a HGV cab, loaned by Highways England to police forces across England. Footage has now been released, taken by Cheshire Police, of a driver on the M6 using two phones at the same time, with one phone to his ear in his left hand while he texted on another phone in his right hand. One view is that, “employers have the opportunity to play an important role in reversing the recent increase in traffic fatalities”, according to Joseph McKillips, executive director of the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS). I hope you enjoy the road ahead.
TRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
Environment Contents
4. News Environment 8. Automotive Racing Slicks - Market Drivers and Forecast from Technavio 10. Just the Ticket 12. Rainer Zietlow Smashes Another World Record in Exide-Powered Vehicle Roads 14. A Vehicle for Change 16. Setting the Wheels in Motion 18. Government Must Not Ignore Safety Concerns of ‘All Lane Running’ 20. 22. 24.
Road Safety Don’t Let Your Lunch Be a Crash Diet HGV Cab Catches Almost 2,700 Dangerous Drivers on England’s Roads Employers Have Important Role in Reducing Traffic Fatalities and Injuries
Rail 26. MEPs Want to Give Free Rail Passes to Young Europeans 28. Right on Track 30. OmniTRAX’s Chicago Rail Link Highlights Innovative Grade Crossing Technology Pilot Aviation 32. Heathrow’s Brexit Boost to Help Make Britain Stronger and Fairer - Faster 34. No Cap on Airlines’ CO2 as Draft Climate Deal Proposes Opt Outs and Offsets 36. Passenger Growth Slowed in August Environment 38. Dieselgate 1st Anniversary: All Diesel Car Brands in Europe Are Even More Polluting Than Volkswagen – Study 40. Industry Report: Platooning Systems Such as from Peloton Offer Significant Fuel Efficiency & Safety Gains 42. Time to Take Vans out of Their Regulatory Black Hole 44. Deals
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RHA Reservations over Mayor’s Plan to Cut Cycling Casualties in London The Road Haulage Association has strong reservations over proposals outlined by London’s mayor Sadiq Khan to demand a ban on 35,000 lorries based on the level of vision the driver has in the cab. The RHA is committed to increasing road safety and working with other stakeholders to achieve a zero target for cycling accidents in London, but it believes that measures announced are too simplistic.
TRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
he RHA’s chief executive Richard Burnett said: “Demonising lorries, which keep the economy and shops going, is unfair. Lorries – including construction vehicles - play a vital part in the economic life of London, without them the capital’s businesses would grind to a standstill”
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“We want to bring balance to the argument, we’re not convinced these measures are the solution – improved visibility isn’t going to sort the problem alone”. The RHA supports a holistic approach to the issue of cyclist safety, including infrastructure, vehicle design and road user behaviour. The RHA says accidents are caused by road user errors. Many trucks have warning signs advising cyclists not to ride on the inside. Mr Burnett said: “All too often cyclists pass buses and lorries on the inside when they are turning left – this is extremely dangerous and road users need to be reminded of basic safety rules. Not all cyclists follow the highway code or have had adequate training in road use. The RHA believes there needs to be an education process to raise awareness of the dangers for both cyclists and drivers.”
Mr Burnett also said: “The RHA works with cycling groups in London to make roads safer and the imposition of unnecessary rules on haulage firms is unfair. The industry should not be penalised without tackling the broader issues” The RHA is calling for urgent consultation with the Mayor’s office and relevant authorities over these plans. Web Address: www.rha.uk.net
News
Breakthrough Truck Speed Limiter Adjusts to Local Posted Speed Limits MAGTEC Products, Inc. and SpeedGauge, Inc. announce the commercial availability of SafeSpeed™ an aftermarket truck speed limiter solution that governs vehicle speed according to local speed limits. MAGTEC Products Inc., is an innovative technology provider of advanced safety, security, and intelligent control systems for the transportation and heavy equipment industries. SpeedGauge is a provider of market-leading speed management and driver behaviour solutions currently in use by hundreds of thousands of commercial fleet vehicles around the world. The SafeSpeed™ solution is built on technical contributions from both companies.
www.speedgauge.net www.safespeed.ca www.magtec.com
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nder the terms of the commercial agreement, SpeedGauge will serve as a reseller of the SafeSpeed service to the fleet telematics sector.
The dynamic speed governing technology restricts vehicle speed and allows additional customizations for corporate speed rules - both on and off the public road network. Field-tested over tens of thousands of miles, in a variety of vehicle configurations from several leading US commercial fleet operators, the service and capability is now ready for industry wide adoption. “We are excited to be working with SpeedGauge in bringing SafeSpeed™ to market. The timing couldn’t be better in light of this month’s release of the U.S. DOT’s FMCSA and NHTSA’s proposed rules regarding speed limiters and alternative technologies that would limit the speed of the vehicle to the speed limit of any given road, not just a single maximum speed. This is the very definition of our SafeSpeed™ technology,” said Mitch Morisset, vice president at MAGTEC. “This technology is the latest generation of MAGTEC’s Acceleration Control System (ACS), developed over a decade ago primarily to enable fleets to take immediate action in bringing a vehicle to a safe and controlled stop. To date, our ACS has hundreds of millions of miles to its credit, without a single incident. Fleets can now set their maximum speed with SafeSpeed™ and also manage all speeds below that,” continued Morisset. SpeedGauge is recognized across the industry for its accurate and dynamic speed data and for the SpeedGauge Safety CenterSM, a speed management and driver behaviour service. “We look forward to bringing this solution to market through our network of leading fleet telematic service providers. It is a privilege to be able to collaborate with MAGTEC, which has decades of technical leadership in the area of over-the-air vehicle control and safety” said Jonathan Hubbard, CEO of SpeedGauge. “This exciting new combination demonstrates both of our company’s commitment to mitigating vehicle liability risk, supporting professional drivers, and making our roads safer across the globe,” concluded Hubbard.
Network Rail Fined £4million for Suffolk Level Crossing Fatality
Network Rail has been fined £4million for breaches of health and safety law which led to a fatality at Gipsy Lane pedestrian level crossing near Needham Market, Suffolk, in 2011. The sentencing at Ipswich Crown Court follows an investigation by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) into the death of Olive McFarland, 82, who was struck while using the crossing by a train travelling from London to Norwich on 24 August 2011. ORR’s investigation found Network Rail had failed to act on substantial evidence that pedestrians had poor visibility of trains when approaching Gipsy Lane footpath crossing, and were exposed to an increased risk of being struck by a train. Network Rail pleaded guilty to the charge on 28 June 2016, at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court. Ian Prosser, HM Chief Inspector of Railways said the, “sentencing at Ipswich Crown Court brings to a close our prosecution of Network Rail for failures which contributed to the death of Ms Olive McFarland. My thoughts are with Ms McFarland’s family. “In 2011, Network Rail’s safety management fell below the standards required, putting members of the public using Gipsy Lane footpath crossing in unnecessary danger. Over the past decade, Network Rail has focussed its attention and investment on improving health and safety on Britain’s railways. However, despite now being ranked as the safest in Europe, there can be no room for complacency. Rail safety remains a top priority for the regulator. We will always take action against companies or individuals if failings are found.”
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First Fully Modular, Hybrid Military UGV for Dismounted Troop Support Launched Milrem and QinetiQ North America (QNA) launched Titan, the first fully modular, hybrid unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) that complies with the initial requirements put forth in the U.S. Army’s Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET) Initiative.
ilrem and QinetiQ partnered to create a breakthrough UGV that combines Milrem’s THeMIS (Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System), the first fully modular hybrid unmanned ground vehicle made for military applications, with QinetiQ’s robotic control technology: the TRC (Tactical Robot Controller) and RAK (Robotic Appliqué Kit). This joint solution not only meets, but exceeds, the rigorous SMET program requirements. As a multi-mission vehicle platform, Titan can assist and replace soldiers on the battlefield to perform complex and hazardous tasks.
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The US Army, in partnership with industry, is developing and testing early prototypes of SMET autonomous vehicles. The Army has provided an outline of expected capabilities including: • Able to haul a squad of soldier gear and keep up for a typical 72-hour patrol • Have enough power to charge additional devices • Capable of fitting in the back of a helicopter or slung below • Able to carry an array of sensors and weaponry to defend itself Unlike existing UGVs, Titan is a highly modular platform that allows different superstructures to be easily mounted and integrated onto the middle vehicular platform for complex missions such as rescue, transport, combat, and reconnaissance. The flexibility and versatility of the system not only increases efficiency, but also significantly reduces warfighter and operator workload and lowers total life-cycle system costs. Additional benefits include: • Increases unit capability and squad support on extended missions • Increases mission effectiveness • Improves safety for warfighters • Provides high load carrying capability and off-road mobility • Diesel/Electric hybrid offers run-silent mode and squad auxiliary power • Operable in unmanned or manned modes
TRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
Milrem and QinetiQ North America displayed the vehicle during AUSA 2016 in Washington, D.C. Monday, October 3-5. “Milrem’s THeMIS and its unique architecture have been well-received worldwide, with testing programs underway in four countries,” said Kuldar Väärsi, Milrem’s CEO. “We highly value our partnership with QinetiQ NA, a technology leader in the unmanned ground vehicle sector. Together, we’re providing a perfect match of technologies that delivers highly advanced robotic capabilities for the US Army.” “The launch of Titan is a massive achievement that we are proud to bring to market for the U.S. military,” said Jon Hastie, Product Manager at QinetiQ North America. “Our extensive development and robotic systems engineering experience, combined with the Milrem’s field-tested THeMIS, will give troops an asset that will significantly reduce workload and increase soldier safety.” Milrem’s vehicles for the US market will be constructed in the United States, with manufacturing preparations already underway. THeMIS was first introduced in London during the DSEI exhibition to high interest. Since then, Milrem has partnered with several well-known defense and commercial companies including Raytheon UK, Singapore Technologies Kinetics, and Leica Geosystems to produce specific, purpose-built UGVs. For more information about Milrem, please visit: http://milrem.ee/en For more information about Qinetiq North America, please visit: https://www.qinetiq-na.com
News
Prime Time Shuttle Is Offering a Shuttle Service to L.A. Coliseum from Orange County and Fullerton Park & Ride Locations Surged prices and traffic congestion: If you’ve attended a L.A. Rams or USC Trojans football game at the L.A. Coliseum, then you may be familiar with both scenarios. Prime Time Shuttle is attempting to help alleviate the pre-game price gauging and post-game chaos by introducing a Park & Ride pilot service with pick up locations in Orange County and Fullerton.
his service is an affordable option to an expensive, limited, and very complicated parking situation at the stadium. Prime Time Shuttle is making an effort to reduce the amount of vehicle and traffic congestion in and around the stadium. Fans will be able to skip the taxi line after the game and enter their reserved shuttle - leaving the stadium after the game has never been easier!
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Using the service is simple: Rams and USC Trojans fans interested in reserving a shuttle for themselves, or a group, can look up the Park & Ride locations here. When you’re ready to book, you can click here to reserve a roundtrip ride to the Coliseum. A round-trip ride is $79.98 per person. With the Park & Ride service, fans are picked up at their Park & Ride location two hours before the game begins, and are dropped off in front of the stadium and ready to head to their seat or tailgate - no parking, no waiting. A shuttle will be at the ready for pick up one hour after the game ends. Prime Time Shuttle has serviced the Los Angeles area for more than 25 years, and has provided transportation for more than 20 million passengers since 2000 alone. Every one of their vehicles are commercially insured and the drivers are all independent owner operators that regard safety and security as their #1 priority. As a true multi-passenger share ride service, each van has the potential to remove up to 7 vehicles from the road at a time, providing customer with a peace of mind, as well as alleviating Los Angeles traffic congestion.
35million Magherafelt Bypass Opens Ahead of Schedule Infrastructure minister Chris Hazzard has officially opened the A31 Magherafelt bypass representing an investment of £35million, following its completion several weeks ahead of schedule. The new 6kilometre bypass will improve links for the movement of people, goods and services in the Mid Ulster area to and from the M2, Belfast and north east. Minister Chris Hazzard said: “The A31 is a strategically important and busy route. The investment and delivery of the £35million bypass will improve local connections to the Key Transport Corridor network and significantly ease congestion in Magherafelt by up to around 50,000 vehicles every week. In addition to reducing congestion, the bypass will help improve road safety and reduce journey times.” The new bypass was built on a largely green field site to the east of Magherafelt between the A31 Moneymore Road at Coolshinny Road junction to the south of Magherafelt and the A6 Castledawson roundabout to the north. It incorporates three new roundabouts at Moneymore Road, Ballyronan Road and Aughrim Road which provide access to the new road as well as a number of under bridges at Killyfaddy Road, Loves Road and Killyneese Road. The minister continued: “Delivering extensive improvements to the roads infrastructure such as this involves the cooperation and understanding of the local community. I acknowledge the impact that this scheme has had on residents, landowners and businesses. However, I am confident that everyone involved will see and immediately begin to benefit from this significant investment.
Their aim is to continually create services and utilize transportation in a manner that benefits both the consumer and the daily commuter. The Park & Ride pilot service is the first of many services to be deployed that will help commuters save money, time, and frustration on driving, getting you to your destination without worrying about surge pricing or hailing a rideshare. If you make a reservation, your pick up time is set!
“My congratulations go to the construction companies BAM and McCann on the joint delivery of the scheme ahead of schedule.”
If you would like to know more about this service, or if you are interested in transportation for your group, email Oscar Vasquez at OscarV@primetimeshuttle.com.
The scheme provided employment for seven people who were previously registered as unemployed. It also provided employment for seven student placements and 16 apprentices. In addition, 90 training placement weeks were also delivered as a result of the investment.
Web Address: www.primetimeshuttle.com
Since the scheme began in June 2015 over 500,000 cubic metres of earthworks material has been excavated, including over 25,000 cubic metres of rock. 46,000 tonnes of bituminous material was laid, which directly benefited local suppliers of construction material.
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Automotive Racing Slicks - Market Drivers and Forecast from Technavio
TRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
Environment
Technavio analysts forecast the global automotive racing slicks market to grow at a CAGR of more than 18% in terms of unit during the forecast period, according to their latest report.
he research study covers the present scenario and growth prospects of the global automotive racing slicks market for 2016-2020. Based on end users, the global automotive racing slicks market is divided into two segments: original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and aftermarket. The aftermarket segment is a major contributor to the market with 4.3 million units in 2015, and this segment is projected to dominate the market during the forecast period.
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North America and Europe will remain the largest markets for automotive racing slicks and will be the most attractive in terms of revenue potential during the forecast period. This region’s vibrant culture of racing enthusiasts and concentration of professional racing makes racing slicks the most popular racing tires.
ing sponsorships and promotional activities. These developments have increased the sales of racing slicks. The automotive industry has responded by investing significant R&D resources to improve tire structure, design pattern, and performance optimization of modern racing slicks. For instance, Formula E introduced in 2014 is a new format of racing with electric cars on the same lines of Formula 1 concept. Another example of increasing number of racing format can be seen in the NASCAR event with the introduction of new series called Sprint All-Star race, introduced in 2016. Need for higher speed to torque ratio will push demand for racing slicks because such tires offer higher traction
Technavio’s sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Technavio analysts highlight the following four factors that are contributing to the growth of the global automotive racing slicks market: • Racing events gaining popularity in developing markets • Modern diversity in racing segments leading to new racing formats • Need for higher speed to torque ratio • High performance and quality requirements making racing slicks an ideal option
The basic function of a vehicle tire is to utilize the resistance generated from friction of the tire with the ground, which enables the vehicle to move forward. Threading (or groves on the tire) lets certain amount of resistance escape, leading to lower speed to torque ratio. Traditionally, racing tires are manufactured without threads or grooves (also known as slick tires), enabling the vehicle to achieve high speeds on racing tracks. Although slick tires are ideal for dry conditions, such tires impose safety concerns over mechanical balance of the racing vehicle which led to a ban on these tires in 1998 by F1.
Racing events gaining popularity in developing markets “Earlier, automotive racing has been restricted to a few markets such as the US, Italy, France, Spain, the UK, and Japan. Today, we see China, India, and the UAE, taking part in automotive racing, thus encouraging OEMs to invest in racing championships in these countries,” says Siddharth Jaiswal, a lead automotive manufacturing research analyst at Technavio.
This lead to the use of threaded or grooved tire for racing, as threaded tires let a significant amount of resistance escape limiting the speed of the vehicle and making it very difficult for wheel to wheel racing. As wheel to wheel racing was limited, making the sport predictable and less exciting, the F1 race lost a significant amount of fan following and viewership. Additionally, threaded tires have lower economic life as compared to slick tires.
In India, certain corporate entities such as Reliance Industries and Mahindra & Mahindra are working to sponsor teams for international events like Grand Prix and F1 to tap the growing popularity of these championships. Motorsport Asia has organized several championships like the Asian Touring Car Championship, Formula BMW Asia, and the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia and these events have attracted major OEMs like Renault and Mahindra.
High performance and quality requirements making racing slicks an ideal option “Racing tires go through many speed and quality tests, and are safer compared to lowcost tires. They are of high quality and provide superior road grip, control, and better vehicle handling and safety. The advent of safety systems like tire pressure monitoring systems, safety belts, roof flaps has attracted the interest of racing car enthusiasts to competitive racing, and plays a pivotal role in market growth,” asserts Siddharth.
Modern diversity in racing segments leading to new racing formats The growing popularity of different types of automotive racing is boosting the market for racing slicks. The variety of races have many different types of vehicles with varying engine sizes; these include electric cars, SUVs, dirt bikes, sprint cars, touring cars, monster trucks, and solar cars. Such races are attract-
For instance, TPMS are designed to manage the tire pressure of a vehicle, and are critical for racing cars. Onboard TPMS technology is considered one of the most reliable ways to keep a check on tire pressure and avoid tire blowouts, compared to manual TPMS. Web Address: www.technavio.com www.transportnews-intl.com
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TRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
Environment
Just the Ticket Masabi, the global leader in mobile ticketing and fare collection for public transport, announced on 6th October that it has integrated Masterpass and Apple Pay digital wallet technology into MTA eTix, the mobile ticketing app that enables Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road customers to purchase their tickets anywhere, anytime. Starting today, it will now be even easier for customers of both railroads to buy tickets using these wallets to purchase one way, round trip, ten trip, weekly, CityTickets, and monthly passes through MTA eTix.
asabi’s JustRide mobile ticketing platform powers eTix as well as the mobile ticketing services of transport authorities across the United States, Europe and the rest of the world. JustRide is a cloud-based, deployment-proven, end-to-end mobile ticketing and fare collection system. It comprises award-winning apps for ticket purchase, display and inspection, with back-end infrastructure for secure payments, ticket management, customer service, reporting and real-time analytics.
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“JustRide is changing the way riders travel in the New York region, allowing them to buy
Mastercard North America President Craig Vosburg said, “Mastercard is working with the world’s leading cities and industry partners to remove the friction that slows down how people move around them. The integration of Masterpass into the MTA eTix app is a tremendous showcase of progress on this commitment as we look to build out a seamless user experience for commuters in New York. In today’s fast-paced, always connected world, people expect to have access to payment solutions that deliver a simple and secure experience and this collaboration truly delivers on that.”
“We have worked tirelessly to rebuild and reimagine New York’s transit system for the 21st century and a key part of those efforts is to incorporate the amenities that modern day riders demand.” tickets anywhere, at any time, with a few taps,” said Brian Zanghi, CEO of Masabi. “By adding Masterpass and Apple Pay we have made purchasing a ticket even easier and we are delighted to be bringing these wallets to riders in New York and soon across our other JustRide cities.” “We have worked tirelessly to rebuild and reimagine New York’s transit system for the 21st century and a key part of those efforts is to incorporate the amenities that modern day riders demand,” Governor Cuomo said. “By adding the use of cutting edge technology like Apple Pay and Masterpass, we are not only making mass transit easier to use, but are also improving the overall experience of riders.”
Apple Pay Vice President Jennifer Bailey said, “The New York commute just got that much easier thanks to Apple Pay in the MTA eTix app. Now you can skip the line entirely to buy train tickets right on your iPhone.” More information about the app is available at http://www.mta.info/mta-eTix
MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast said, “We’re pleased to welcome both Apple Pay and Masterpass to the eTix experience. We believe that the addition of these secure payment options will help us to do an even better job of meeting the needs of our customers, and we look forward to further building the user-base for the app in the weeks and months ahead.” www.transportnews-intl.com
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TRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
Environment
Rainer Zietlow Smashes Another World Record in Exide-Powered Vehicle Exide-sponsored driver Rainer Zietlow has recorded a new Eurasian world record. The 15,145km journey started in Magadan in east Russia and ended in Lisbon on the western tip of continental Europe. Zietlow completed the journey in a time of 6 days, 9 hours and 38 minutes, smashing the previous record by more than 2 days. The Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI was powered by an Exide Start-Stop AGM battery from Exide Technologies, a leading global provider of stored electrical energy solutions.
he journey started on the Road of Bones, the bumpy gravelled terrain that runs through far east Russia. After six days on the road, the team entered Lisbon just before sunrise. They headed straight to the police station to have their official arrival document signed and stamped, certifying the world record.
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“Exide is an excellent partner, and has an unparalleled reputation for making high-performance, reliable batteries,” said Rainer Zietlow. “Exide Start-Stop AGM was perfectly suited to such a demanding journey, with excellent charge acceptance, four times the cycle life and 20% more power than a standard battery.”
The Touareg was fitted with a high-performance Exide Start-Stop AGM battery, ideal for vehicles with power hungry electrical equipment. Exide is a pioneer in automotive start-stop AGM technology, and one of the few start-stop OE suppliers in Europe. As an
“Exide is an excellent partner, and has an unparalleled reputation for making high-performance, reliable batteries.” original-equipment manufacturer, Exide’s batteries are designed to meet the demanding requirements of carmakers. Its manufacturing facilities undergo regular audits to ensure they operate to the meticulous standards expected by its customers. Rainer Zietlow has completed some of the most ambitious journeys ever attempted, always with Exide on board. He has multiple long distance world records, including the ‘Panamericana’ from Argentina to Alaska, the ‘Russtralia’ from Melbourne to St. Petersburg, and the “Cape to Cape” from Nordkapp in Norway to Cape Agulhas in South Africa. Zietlow is a strong supporter of the SOS Children’s Villages organisation, which provides homes to orphaned and abandoned children. Exide will show its latest innovations at Automechanika Frankfurt 2016, taking place on 13-17 September. Exide will be in Hall 4.1 Stand D47 and will present its full selection of batteries, including its latest motorbike range and new commercial vehicle battery. Zietlow will do a ‘meet and greet’ with visitors every day, 2pm, at Exide’s stand. www.transportnews-intl.com
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TRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
Roads
A Vehicle for Change With vehicle automation rapidly gaining currency, cars haring operators (CSOs) are developing novel business models to address the evolving mobility demands of commuters. They will initially offer self-parking services, allowing members to drop off vehicles at designated parking lots, and gradually roll out short-distance parking service, wherein self-driven vehicles will be driven into parking lots. Finally, once complete automation is possible, collaboration with key players and convergence with public transport will change the mobility industry.
s automated driving will dilute the need for personal ownership, traditional car owners will gravitate toward car sharing services. Furthermore, the worsening levels of traffic congestion and pollution due to the development of mega-cities and urbanisation foster a favourable environment for efficient travel services.
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“The convenience, flexibility and security of car sharing services make a strong case for the adoption of integrated mobility services,” said Mobility Senior Research Analyst Krishna Achuthan. “This, in turn, will lead to a number of mergers and acquisitions among industry majors that recognise the market benefits of offering such systems and digital platforms.”
Asia: There were five countries in 122 cities in Asia with car sharing operations in 2015. Strong public transit network, high traffic congestion, and a number of uncontested markets are expected to attract foreign CSOs. Africa: There are 14 cities in South Africa with population of more than 300,000 and 9 cities with population greater than 100,000. Car sharing operations, launched in 2015, are currently operational in 3 cities: Cape Town, Durban, and greater Gauteng Metro, which includes Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Ekurhuleni. These uncontested markets are expected to encourage the launch of new car sharing operations after 2017.
“The convenience, flexibility and security of car sharing services make a strong case for the adoption of integrated mobility services.” In addition to market consolidation, technology advancements and government initiatives will give a huge boost to car sharing services, with the number subscribers expected to cross 36 million by 2025 from 7.9 million in 2015. However, to achieve optimum market potential, CSOs need to counter the high insurance cost and inadequate demand in areas with low population density. Europe: Concentration on the 192 cities with population of more than 300,000. Only 27 have one-way carsharing operations. Therefore, major CSOs, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and industry participants are expected to launch innovative car sharing operations. North America: There are more than 75 cities with population over 300,000 in North America. However, one-way operations are currently available only in 16 cities, resulting in a huge untapped market potential market.
Latin America: Out of 188 cities with population over 300,000, one way operations are available only in 10 cities. Lack of last-mile connectivity is likely to hamper the growth of round-trip car sharing operations. BMW’s DriveNow and ReachNow, Daimler’s Car2Go, Zipcar, Bollore Group and GM currently are the prominent players in the space. This pool of competitors is set to expand with advancements in public transit systems. “Physical integration of public transit systems with car sharing will allow users to book both cars and train tickets through one single mobile app and thereby, enhance convenience and drive member growth,” noted Achuthan. “In future, car sharing models are likely to expand to include peer-to-peer and corporate services on the same platform, as well as consolidate with adjacent mobility services like leasing, car rental and bike sharing.” For complimentary access to more information on this research, please visit: http://frost.ly/up
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TRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
Roads
Setting the Wheels in Motion “Scotland’s bus fleet is going greener thanks to the latest Scottish Green Bus Fund” said Humza Yousaf, transport minister on 4th October. Speaking at the CPT Conference in Cameron House Hotel, Loch Lomond, the minister announced this latest round of SGBF funding worth around £2 million.
ince it was first introduced, the SGBF has supported the purchase of 269 low carbon emission buses across Scotland. This latest round will see 46 new low emission buses introduced by three key operators: First Scotland East, Lothian Buses and Stagecoach East Scotland.
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Mr Yousaf said: “The Scottish Government is committed to reducing our carbon emissions and one way to do this is by introducing cleaner transport such as these buses.
tional CO2 targets. We are extremely grateful to the Scottish Government for its support as we continue our journey towards becoming the greenest bus operator in the UK.” Paul McGowan, managing director of First Scotland East, said: “The Scottish Green Bus Fund has been an excellent initiative in assisting operators to upgrade the standard of their vehicles and meet low emissions targets. “We were delighted to welcome the Transport
“The Scottish Government is committed to reducing our carbon emissions and one way to do this is by introducing cleaner transport such as these buses.” “Not only are they more environmentally friendly, they are also more attractive and quieter, plus points in our efforts to encourage more people out of their cars and onto public transport. “The SGBF is also helping our public transport partners invest in the latest emission reducing technology and is another clear indication of our support and commitment to the bus industry in Scotland”. Andrew Jarvis, managing director, Stagecoach East Scotland said: “We are committed to improving public transport in Angus and Dundee and I am therefore delighted that we have been successful in our bid for this Scottish Green Bus funding towards improving our “green” bus fleet. These new vehicles will complement our existing 18 electric hybrid buses already in the area, helping reduce our environmental impact and we look forward to introducing them to our customers on the 20/21 routes in the Spring.” Richard Hall, managing director of Lothian Buses, said: “This is excellent news for our customers and the wider Edinburgh community. We already have one of the most modern fleets in the country and this latest investment will reduce our environmental footprint even more, providing greener and quieter public transport for residents, visitors and workers in the capital. The reduction in greenhouse gases and other emissions will further improve air quality in the city centre and contribute to na-
Minister to the recent launch of our new fleet of state-of-the-art and efficient low carbon vehicles which are now being used on our high frequency services 27/28 between West Lothian and Edinburgh. “These services are a great example of the partnership working we have undertaken with local authorities and stakeholders as we continue to deliver even greater improvements for our customers. “Over the past five years, First Bus in Scotland has invested £80m in new vehicles and a third of our Scottish fleet now meets Euro 5 and Euro 6 emissions standards, making them among the greenest on the road.” George Mair, director, CPT Scotland said, “Scotland’s bus operators have invested over £200m in improving their fleets over the last five years. The Green Bus Fund has played an important role in supporting a degree of this investment in low carbon vehicles. “While bus travel is already far more environmentally friendly than travelling by private car, the introduction of more green buses is certainly a positive for passengers and other road users as well as a providing a boost towards meeting Scotland’s air quality targets.” Web Address: www.gov.scot www.transportnews-intl.com
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TRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
Roads
Government Must Not Ignore Safety Concerns of ‘All Lane Running’ The Transport Committee published the Government’s response to its report on ‘all lane running’ motorway schemes, urging the Government not to ignore the safety concerns that were presented.
n a report published in June 2016, the Transport Committee warned that Government should not proceed with ‘all lane running’ schemes while major safety concerns exist. The Committee argued that the permanent conversion of the hard shoulder into a running lane is a radical change to the nature of motorways and creates a real challenge for motorists.
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However, Ministers seem determined to press ahead with the latest design of all lane running schemes, ignoring the concerns expressed by MPs and other motoring organisations.
“The Committee remains concerned about the size and spacing of Emergency Refuge Areas. While we are pleased that Highways England has committed to a review, the M4 proposal should not have gone ahead until the review is complete. “We are not the only people who are worried about this incarnation of All lane running schemes. In the course of our inquiry, there were genuine concerns raised by the emergency services, road workers and recovery operators. The Government cannot ignore them.”
“The Department for Transport is blatantly ignoring the safety concerns set out in our report.” Louise Ellman, Chair of the Transport Committee, commented: “The Department for Transport is blatantly ignoring the safety concerns set out in our report. We had barely received the response to our report before the Government endorsed an all lane running scheme on the M4.
Background In ‘all lane running’, the latest version of smart motorways, the hard shoulder is used as a live lane of traffic. Previous schemes have only used the hard shoulder at peak times or to deal with congestion.
“The Committee isn’t arguing with the Government about the need for more capacity on our motorways, or their statement that motorways are our safest roads. We support smart motorways such as the M42 scheme.
In 2015, the Department for Transport forecasted that traffic on the strategic road network would increase by up to 60% by 2040. The Government sees smart motorways as a way of addressing this growth without incurring the costs of traditional motorway widening.
“But we take real issue with the Government’s assertion that all lane running schemes on motorways are no different to other types of roads without hard shoulders. Motorways are a different class of road and drivers have different expectations when using them.
Plans are in place to permanently convert the hard shoulder into a running lane on around 300 miles of motorway. Highways England has a programme of 30 all lane running schemes to the value of circa £6 billion over the next nine years.
“In the same response, Ministers recognise that the public needs to learn about variable speed limits and compliance with Red X signals on these motorways. Even then, we believe that education will fail without enforcement and ministers need to ensure that failure to comply is backed up with effective enforcement.
© Parliamentary Copyright http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/ committees-a-z/commons-select/transport-committee/
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Don’t Let Your Lunch Be a Crash Diet A new survey by Brake, the road safety charity and Direct Line has found a third of drivers questioned sometimes eat food behind the wheel. Just over a quarter of people (27%) have unwrapped and eaten the food and a third (33%) admit to eating food someone else has unwrapped for them.
he worst offenders are drivers aged 25-34. More than half (55%) in this age bracket admitting they have unwrapped and then eaten at the wheel, with just under a third of those admitting to doing it at least once every week.
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Additionally, one in ten of the drivers who responded said they had been involved in a
“To tell a two and a five-year old that their daddy will never be coming home again is still the worst thing I have ever had to do in my life.” near-miss because they were distracted by eating food. A near-miss was classed as having to suddenly break or swerve to avoid a hazard. Research shows that drivers who eat and drink at the wheel are twice as likely to crash [i] and this risk may be even higher if the food is hot, messy or you have to unwrap yourself [ii]. Eating and drinking while driving diverts attention away from the driving task, increasing reaction times by up to 44%, meaning drivers will respond to hazards much more slowly. It also causes physical distraction, as at least one hand is off the wheel holding food or drink [iii]. While is not against to law to eat while driving it can become a crime if a person’s driving becomes distracted because they are unwrapping food or eating it. Driving without due care and attention or careless driving is a criminal offence, whatever the distraction. The maximum penalty for the offence is a driving ban. Case study Off-duty firefighter and dad of two, Joseph Wilkins was cycling when he was knocked down and killed on a country road near Abingdon in May 2012. The driver was eating a sandwich at the wheel and convicted of causing death by careless driving. Joe’s partner Nicci Saunders said: “Joe was a kind, caring, loving, father and my best friend. He was in training to cycle from Lands’ End to John O’Groats and had completed the same ride twice that week. He went out on 24th May with
TRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
a friend to do the ride again. He kissed his two young children goodnight, kissed me goodbye and went out. The next time I saw him he was lying dead in a road after being hit by a car at 60 miles an hour, breaking his neck. To tell a two and a five-year old that their daddy will never be coming home again is still the worst thing I have ever had to do in my life.”
Joe was cycling down a straight road on a beautiful sunny day when Paul Brown was distracted by eating a sandwich while driving. He had over 13 seconds to see Joe, but didn’t, and ploughed straight into his back wheel, killing him instantly. The thought that he lost his life was inconceivable but to find out it was due to someone eating made it feel even more of a loss. This just should not have happened. I see people all the time eating and drinking in cars and by doing this taking their eyes off the road. Just a couple of seconds can take another person’s life and put hurt in to a family that never goes away. It’s been four and a half years now, yet he is still missed as much now as he was on that first day. The girls, as they get older understand more what they are missing without having their dad around and all because someone couldn’t wait to get home to eat.” Alice Bailey, communications and campaigns advisor for Brake, said: “Imagining a distracted driver you may think of someone on a mobile phone, but many things can dangerously draw our attention away from the roads around us. In the fast-paced world we live in it is sometimes tempting to eat on the go, but drivers who are distracted by something else, even food, significantly increase their risk of causing a devastating crash. If you’re hungry, you probably need to take a short break from driving to eat and recuperate before continuing your journey when you’re not distracted by hunger or eating.” Gus Park, commercial director of motor at
Road Safety
Direct Line said: “Whilst we appreciate people’s busy lifestyles often dictate that we eat on the go and that a sudden pang of hunger can seem impossible to ignore, we urge drivers not to let their stomachs get in the way of good judgement and safe driving. If you really can’t wait until you reach your destination to eat, then stopping off for a comfort break is a much better idea than eating at the wheel. Pit-stops provide a great opportunity to re-energise before the next leg of your journey.”
Five worst regions for eating and driving near-misses 1. London 28% 2. Scotland 17% 3. North East 13% 4. East Midlands 13% 5. West Midlands 12%
[i] Crash dieting: The effects of eating and drinking on driving performance, Accident Analysis & Prevention, 2008 [ii] The ten most dangerous foods to eat while driving, insure.com, 2009 [iii] Driving with one hand on the wheel - a fatal distraction, University of Leeds, 2012 Web Address: www.brake.org.uk
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TRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
Road Safety
HGV Cab Catches Almost 2,700 Dangerous Drivers on England’s Roads Over the past 16 months, almost 2,700 drivers have been stopped for unsafe driving by a HGV cab, loaned by Highways England to police forces across England. Footage has now been released, taken by Cheshire Police, of a driver on the M6 using two phones at the same time, with one phone to his ear in his left hand while he texted on another phone in his right hand.
he elevated position of the cab allows police officers to film unsafe driving behaviour. Drivers are then pulled over by police cars following behind. The initiative has proved so successful that the cab was demonstrated to police forces from across Europe at the European Traffic Police Network (TISPOL) annual road safety conference at Manchester Airport on Wednesday 5 October.
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One man in Surrey told officers he needed to use his mobile phone to call his new girlfriend after ‘their song’ came on the radio. Another
In September, transport secretary Chris Grayling announced motorists using their mobile phones while driving will soon face much tougher penalties. Anyone calling, texting or using an app while at the wheel will face higher on the spot fines and more points on their licence than they do today. A total of 25 police forces took part in the HGV safety cab initiative during its first 16 months. Officers gave verbal advice to 247 drivers, issued 693 fixed or graduated penalty notices, and filed 2,186 traffic offence reports – usually requiring drivers to attend a driver education
“It’s astonishing and worrying that drivers have got into bad driving habits and are using their mobile phones, watching DVDs or even boiling a kettle while driving.” driver in Kent was spotted watching a DVD while at the wheel; a motorist in Surrey was seen boiling water in a kettle on his dashboard; and a driver in Hampshire was seen reading a book. Anthony Thorpe from Highways England’s Incident Prevention Team said: The vast majority of drivers pay attention when they’re on a motorway but a minority are putting themselves and others at risk by not driving safely. “We’ve been loaning out the HGV cab to police forces to help improve safety and are delighted that the initiative is making a real difference and protecting motorists. It’s astonishing and worrying that drivers have got into bad driving habits and are using their mobile phones, watching DVDs or even boiling a kettle while driving.”
course. There were also 34 prosecutions for more serious offences. Reasons for stopping drivers included: • Using mobile phones – 1,663 • Not wearing seatbelts – 749 • Not in proper control of vehicles – 173 • Speeding – 160 • Driving under influence of drink or drugs – 7 Web Address: www.gov.uk
Since the safety scheme began in April 2015, 3,494 offences have been spotted. Nearly half related to the unsafe use of mobile phones, and over a fifth involved drivers not wearing seatbelts. www.transportnews-intl.com
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TRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
Road Safety
Employers Have Important Role in Reducing Traffic Fatalities and Injuries The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) recently kicked off its 2016 Drive Safely Work Week™ campaign, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the annual safe-driving initiative targeted to employers. More than 2500 organizations representing approximately 13 million employees are set to take part in the week that promotes safe-driving education and awareness to all employees—company drivers and commuters alike. The campaign comes on the heels of the announcement by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that traffic fatalities in 2015 increased 7.2% over the previous year, the greatest percentage increase in 50 years.
otor vehicle-related incidents remain the leading cause of workplace fatalities in the United States and are responsible for 1.6 million lost work days per year, with 90% attributed to traffic crashes that occur off the job.
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“Employers have the opportunity to play an important role in reversing the recent increase in traffic fatalities,” said Joseph McKillips, Executive Director of NETS. “Driving is likely the riskiest thing any employee does on a daily basis. Taking the time to remind all drivers that they are the most important safety fea-
NETS is a 501(c) 3 employer-led organization, a partnership between the U.S. federal government and the private sector. NETS’ mission is to reduce road-related collisions, injuries, deaths and costs. Established in 1989, NETS’ programs and services are dedicated to improving the safety of employees, their families, and members of the communities where they live and work by preventing traffic crashes that occur on-and-off the job. Board member companies include Abbott, AmeriFleet Transportation, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, The Coca-Cola Company, Hess Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Liberty
“Taking the time to remind all drivers that they are the most important safety feature in their vehicle is good for the health and safety of employees, it’s good business sense and it’s the right thing to do.” ture in their vehicle is good for the health and safety of employees, it’s good business sense and it’s the right thing to do. The Drive Safely Work Week campaign gives employers off all sizes the opportunity to do just that.” This year’s campaign is themed “Drowsy, Distracted or Focused—Your Decisions Drive Your Safety.” It calls on drivers to take a hard look at what they do behind the wheel, or before getting behind the wheel, that could be increasing their risk of a crash, starting with the significance of being well-rested. The issues of drowsy driving, distracted driving, speeding and the importance of wearing a seat belt on every trip are emphasized. NETS makes available a free toolkit that includes an interactive driver-risk assessment, graphics, social media posts, PowerPoint presentations and more that may be downloaded at: www. trafficsafety.org. Campaign materials are not dated so organizations can use them at any time throughout the year.
Mutual Insurance Group, Monsanto Company, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Group, Shell International Petroleum Company B.V. and UPS. In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) serve as federal liaisons to the NETS board of directors. trafficsafety.org
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TRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
Rail
MEPs Want to Give Free Rail Passes to Young Europeans Young Europeans are on track to receive a free InterRail pass on their 18th birthday in the future. MEPs discussed the proposal and overwhelmingly supported it during a debate in plenary on 4 October. Millions of young European have travelled throughout the continent using Interrail over the last few decades, but the pass itself can cost up to hundreds of euros.
nterrail is a pass allowing people to travel across Europe’s rail network freely. Users can use it to travel wherever they like on the continent. Some 300,000 people use InterRail passes to travel across Europe every year. An InterRail pass cost ranges between €20 and €480 for a month-long pass.
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What is being proposed The idea behind the proposal discussed in Parliament is to promote a travel mode with low greenhouse gas emissions, while enabling young European to meet and get to know Eu-
Reactions from political groups Most political groups spoke out in favour of the proposal. Manfred Weber, from EPP, said: “People all around Europe must get to discover neighbouring countries and live with the people there as friends. We want to invest in all young people to experience the continent.” Luigi Morgano, from S&D, said: “Investing in young people, enabling people to travel around Europe, promoting better understanding and knowledge about Europe is a wonderful enchanting idea.”
“People all around Europe must get to discover neighbouring countries and live with the people there as friends. We want to invest in all young people to experience the continent.” rope. Some member states are not members of the InterRail network: Malta, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. For them other means of transport such as buses and ferries could be considered. Commission support During the debate on 4 October, transport commissioner Violeta Bulc called the proposal an “excellent idea”. However, she said there would many challenges so further analysis will be required. “The Commission will carefully assess the potential costs and funding sources for this initiative as well as its administrative feasibility,” she said. Bulc also suggested an alternative version of the scheme: “We may also consider possible variations to this excellent idea. An attractive option might be to have a lottery open to all or specific categories of young Europeans with a significant number winning free tickets”
Kosma Złotowski, from ECR, said: “Travel helps you educate yourself and therefore I would like to fully support this initiative.” Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, from ALDE, said: “There is a Europe with a soul and a heart and what better way of promoting it than giving young people the chance to explore it.” Kateřina Konečná, from GUE/NGL, said: “It is very important to give young people the possibility to discover Europe.” Rebecca Harms, from Green/EFA, said: “We fully support this fantastic idea. For a relatively low cost we can help Europeans understand each other and get to know Europe.” Daniela Aiuto, from EFDD, said: “It’s a good initiative that may indeed boost the European spirit.” Source: European Parliament www.europarl.europa.eu/portal
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Right on Track
TRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
Rail
The National College for High Speed Rail took a significant step towards opening its doors on 5th October, as a key part of the Birmingham site nears completion. Finalising the roof structure is a significant point in the construction phase and means the College is on track to open to students in September 2017 when it will provide the specialist training, skills and qualifications required to build HS2 and future rail infrastructure projects.
long with its sister site in Doncaster’s Lakeside, the College - based in Birmingham’s university district - will play a vital role in ensuring Britain addresses the impending skills shortage in the engineering sector while upskilling the current workforce.
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It is estimated that British businesses will need approximately 87,000 graduate level engineers every year for the next ten years and 30 per cent of the current workforce will need further training to deliver the demands of the High Speed Rail industry. Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, said: “HS2 will be the backbone of our national rail network and help us build an economy that works for all. The significant benefits of the scheme will not just be felt from when the trains start running. Work on the new College sites shows the transformational effect that HS2 is already having, creating jobs and supporting economic growth. Around 25,000 jobs and 2,000 apprenticeships will be generated during construction of HS2, which is due to begin next year.
Beth West, commercial director for HS2 Ltd, said: “HS2 provides the opportunity to drive productivity and growth and increase the UK’s international competitiveness in high-tech engineering and construction. It demands new higher-level technical skills for jobs not yet in existence in the UK. The College is vital to the delivery of High Speed Rail across Britain and so it’s extremely pleasing to see the great progress being made. “As the College puts the finishing touches to its curricular programme and steps closer to welcoming its first intake of students, it has also confirmed the appointment of Clair Mowbray as its new CEO to take the project forward.” Terry Morgan, chair of the National College for High Speed Rail, said: “I’m extremely pleased to appoint Clair as the new Chief Executive of the National College for High Speed Rail. Her commitment and passion for education and strategic development will be vital as we move closer to opening the College in September 2017. “We are passionate about creating a stateof-the-art, employer-led college which will
“The UK is highly regarded for its engineering capabilities but we need to do more to attract new talent to the sector as well as improving the skills of the current workforce.” “The UK is highly regarded for its engineering capabilities but we need to do more to attract new talent to the sector as well as improving the skills of the current workforce. That is why the Government launched a transport skills strategy earlier this year committing us to create 30,000 apprenticeships across roads and rail by 2020. The National College for High Speed Rail is a vital part of these plans as it will provide the cutting-edge skills we need to deliver HS2 and other world-beating infrastructure.” Jada Bailey-Webber who lives in Birmingham and has already registered her interest in enrolling at the College met the Secretary of State at the ceremony. Jada Bailey-Webber said: “I’m currently doing a Rail Engineering transition course at Aston University Engineering Academy which involves trackside learning and working with businesses, helping to prepare me to attend the National College for High Speed Rail. Using my current Engineering qualifications, studying further at the college and working alongside businesses to get hands on work experience will help prepare me for my future career.”
provide students with the skills they need to enjoy an exciting and well-paid career while providing employers with the highly-skilled workforce they need to deliver High Speed Rail in the UK and other major infrastructure projects.” Birmingham City Council, Doncaster Council and the Local Enterprise Partnerships for both areas support the college and have carried out significant work in partnership with HS2 Ltd to help set up the structure of the College and develop the curriculum. Businesses interested in upskilling employees and those considering a career path in the High Speed Rail industry can register their interest at the College’s newly launched website: Web Address: www.nchsr.ac.uk
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OmniTRAX’s Chicago Rail Link Highlights Innovative Grade Crossing Technology Pilot
TRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
Rail
Chicago Rail Link, LLC (CRL), a managed affiliate of OmniTRAX, Inc., one of the largest privately held transportation service companies in North America and an affiliate of The Broe Group, is presenting a new and innovative grade crossing pilot project during the safety session of the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials Standing Committee on Rail Transportation Annual Meeting at the at the W City Center Hotel. Dave Arganbright, Vice President of Government Affairs for OmniTRAX, is leading the presentation, which will review the first such test of this technology in North America.
his is another example of OmniTRAX’s innovative leveraging of technology to improve the safety of our operations,” said Sergio Sabatini, Chief Operating Officer for OmniTRAX.
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The CRL, a 72-mile short line railroad located on the Southside of Chicago, maintains a local grade crossing where industrial, weather and drainage conditions no longer support traditional track circuits for its signal system. To remedy the situation, the CRL has procured a new grade crossing train detection system from Next Generation Rail Technologies S.L. (NGRT) that utilizes sound and vibration to detect oncoming trains. The novel technology does not rely on traditional track circuits that can be falsely triggered and will also be used to count axles and detect flat wheels that may prevent future derailments. The CRL is working with the Federal Railroad Administration to submit an Informational Filing to operate the system in a shadow mode during the trial with the goal of obtaining Product Safety Plan certification for the system to be used permanently in revenue service. “We are excited to begin testing this promising technology on one of the most challenging
As one of North America’s largest private railroad and transportation management companies, OmniTRAX’s core capabilities range from providing management services to railroad and port services and to intermodal and industrial switching operations. Through its affiliation with The Broe Group and its portfolio of managed companies, OmniTRAX also has the unique capability of offering specialized industrial development and real estate solutions, both on and off the rail network managed by OmniTRAX. More information is available at www.omnitrax.com. The Broe Group, based in Denver, Colorado, is a diversified privately-owned enterprise with a multi-billion dollar asset base. The Broe Group and its affiliates employ more than 1,000 people directly and provide employment for countless others through its Great Western Industrial Park in Northern Colorado. The Broe Group and its affiliates own and/or manage commercial real estate and other businesses across North America. Its transportation affiliate, OmniTRAX, Inc., is a leading transportation services firm with railroad, port and terminal operations, and is the 2nd largest operator of short-line railroads in the U.S. Its energy affiliate, Great Western Oil & Gas Com-
“We are excited to begin testing this promising technology on one of the most challenging crossings in our network.” crossings in our network,” said Arganbright. “The potential industrywide benefits from a successful pilot of NGRT’s detection system are limitless. This technology could enhance worker safety, detect broken rails, count axles and allow railroads to more efficiently spend their capital budgets.” The potential safety benefits of this detection technology have drawn notice from local officials. The local community has previously raised CRL’s grade crossing as a traffic and safety issue and is excited about the technology’s local and potential for city and nationwide adoption. “I am pleased to see the Chicago Rail Link and OmniTRAX commitment to safety in our area,” said Alderwoman Susan Sadlowski Garza, 10th Ward. “Chicago is the busiest rail hub in the United States and it is critical for railroads to invest in initiatives that enhance safety. I look forward to working with OmniTRAX to ensure the safety of our local community and promote initiatives that enhance rail safety across the Chicagoland area.”
pany, is a top 10 driller in Colorado and among the top 100 drillers in the U.S. The Broe Group has multiple other investment affiliates, including Three Leaf Ventures, which is focused on innovative healthcare technology start-ups. For more information, see www.broe.com. About Next Generation Rail Technologies S.L. (NGRT) NGRT is a Spanish company focused on applying state-of-the-art novel technology to enhance railway safety. NGRT’s core technology uses sound and vibrations propagated in the rail to detect oncoming trains and pre-warn of any anomalies in the track and infrastructure. NGRT currently has offices in Spain, Czech Republic and Slovakia, with plans to expand to the U.S. and Australia in the next year. Web Address: omnitrax.com
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Heathrow’s Brexit Boost to Help Make Britain Stronger and Fairer - Faster The benefits of Heathrow expansion could be delivered four years early, giving the British economy a £1.5bn ‘Brexit boost’ whilst a third runway is built, according to new proposals to be launched on the first day of the upcoming Conservative Party Conference.
he measures, which are subject to consultation, show that Heathrow could get more British exporters connected to more global growth when Britain leaves the EU by adding up to 25,000 additional movements on the existing runways in 2021, after permission is granted for a third runway.
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As well as adding vital extra capacity on existing routes, the end of EU regulation offers an opportunity to ring-fence some of the new slots for “Brexit Boost Routes” including new
pacity to help secure this important link and ensure we bring tourists and investment into Liverpool from new, growing markets outside of Europe. That’s why Heathrow expansion is the right choice for the North West.” Updated research by Frontier Economics has identified indicative examples of 40 new longhaul trading routes with Heathrow expansion. With more than 30 airlines queuing to operate at Heathrow, only the UK’s hub has the high demand for slots to deliver these economic benefits in the early months of Brexit.
“If we want to make the most of new deals with growing economies outside of Europe, then we’ve got to get on with expanding Heathrow.” domestic connections such as Humberside, Dundee, Newquay or Liverpool and new longhaul trade routes to growth markets such as Osaka, Kochi, Wuhan and Quito. To help establish new domestic connections, Heathrow is proposing an extension of its existing £10 ‘domestic passenger discount’ for all flights to UK airports until 2037, as long as there is justification and it is deemed to be in the public interest. It will also bring forward its £10m ‘route development fund’ to 2021. These measures will enable all of Britain to capitalise on new market opportunities in the early months of Brexit, supporting small and large exporters, boosting competition and reducing prices to consumers. They have been welcomed by airports across the country: Andrew Cornish, CEO of Liverpool John Lennon Airport said: “Heathrow is the UK’s hub airport. A route there would enable Liverpool to have onward connections to every continent of the globe as well as easy access to London. Liverpool has missed out on this link for over 24 years, not because there isn’t demand but because Heathrow is full. Expansion at Heathrow will create the additional caTRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
Assuming Brexit occurs in 2020, new analysis by Frontier Economics and evidence from the independent Airports Commission study shows Heathrow would create around £55bn more growth than an expanded Gatwick in the crucial 15 years after leaving the EU, with Heathrow generating up to £60bn in growth and Gatwick generating only £4bn in the same period. Early flight expansion could also deliver up to 5,000 extra on-airport jobs for local people. Heathrow will work with airlines to ensure that expansion is delivered cost efficiently. All of Heathrow’s commitments to meet and in most cases exceed the Airports Commission’s conditions, would be protected. Commenting, Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said: “This Brexit Boost Plan is our commitment to making Britain stronger and fairer for everyone – faster. It would generate around £55bn more in growth than Gatwick in the early years of Brexit. Our proposals for an additional 25,000 flights a year from 2021 would help businesses and families from Newquay to Dundee benefit earlier from Heathrow expansion, while protecting our commitment to meet and exceed the Airports
Aviation
Commission’s environmental conditions. Heathrow’s third runway is the only option that can help every nation and region of Britain realise the opportunities of Brexit. The Prime Minister and the Government can now to make the right choice, and back Heathrow expansion.” As the UK’s largest port by value, Heathrow is a unique national asset. It currently handles 29% of non-EU exports by value, compared to Gatwick’s 0.2%. With expansion Heathrow proposes to double its current cargo capacity, enabling businesses across the UK to increase their exports and realise the opportunities of Brexit. Heathrow expansion already has the support of small and large businesses right across the UK and is the favoured option of the majority of MPs. According to the independent Airports Commission, a third runway will create up to 180,000 jobs, four times more than Gatwick, and up to £211bn of economic growth.
Mike Cherry, Federation of Small Businesses National Chairman said: “We have been working with Heathrow on the announcements, which will be warmly welcomed by small businesses across the UK. Our members have pressed for commitments to greater connectivity to our regions from the UK’s hub airport, and so the pledge to ring-fence routes and the prospect of more domestic destinations is a significant step forward. As we face a new post-Brexit world, the new capacity for freight cargo and exports are essential to open up potential new overseas markets for British business.” Chris Davies, Conservative MP for Brecon and Radnorshire said: “Brexit presents a wealth of opportunity to British businesses and the first few years are critical. Heathrow is our hub airport and our biggest port. If we want to make the most of new deals with growing economies outside of Europe, then we’ve got to get on with expanding Heathrow. The announcement means we can get the connectivity we need the moment leave, meaning Britain gets the biggest Brexit boost possible.”
Roberta Blackman-Woods, Labour MP for the City of Durham said: “As we face a new post-Brexit world, the new capacity for freight cargo and exports are essential to open up potential new overseas markets for British business. The proposals from Heathrow that will help to boost the vital air-link from Newcastle Airport that connects the North East to the world are to be very much welcomed. “Connectivity with Heathrow is vital for economic growth and expanding tourism in the North East and is necessary to help our businesses compete globally. The government must acknowledge the link between stronger regional growth and expanding Heathrow and approve the third runway as soon as possible.” According to Heathrow Airport Limited, only Heathrow expansion can make Britain stronger in the world economy, and fairer for everyone by connecting Britain’s cities to global growth at a price airlines and passengers can afford. Web Address: mediacentre.heathrow.com www.transportnews-intl.com
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TRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
Aviation
No Cap on Airlines’ CO2 as Draft Climate Deal Proposes Opt Outs and Offsets National governments meeting in Montreal are nearing a deal to offset but not reduce carbon emissions from aircraft on a voluntary basis. Agreement at the UN’s aviation body ICAO is likely to be met with scepticism in Europe where in 2013 the EU agreed to roll back coverage of its emissions trading system from flights into and out of Europe. Ostensibly this was to give ICAO time to come up with something better.
nder ICAO’s proposed market-based measure, countries can choose to opt for voluntary offsetting of their carriers’ emissions until 2027 when the scheme would become mandatory for all but those exempt countries. Airlines would be required to purchase offsets each year for the amount of CO2 emitted above 2020 levels. Countries which have so far signed up for the voluntary phase only account for about half of the emissions coverage needed to deliver carbon neutral growth in 2020, let alone what is what is required to meet the 1.5°C limit on global warming.
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whether the original full scope of the ETS should automatically snap back on 1 January 2017 – as the regulation provides – or whether, for instance, the clock should be stopped a third time. A recent T&E study found that, although now restricted to intra-EEA flights only while waiting for ICAO, the aviation ETS functions well and has a high degree of compliance including by third country operators. The ETS’s use of allowances ensures transparency, however, it is only once the current surplus in the overall ETS is properly addressed that emission reductions will be realised.
“ICAO promised a global measure that would deliver carbon neutral growth in 2020, but instead we are facing into another decade of delay with a lot of uncertainty over whether offsets will actually reduce emissions.” The criteria governing which offset programmes count as emissions reductions is to be decided at a later date. This leaves unaddressed concerns about whether an offset actually reduces emissions or whether the offset project would have taken place anyway – in which case it is not additional and does not count. Rules to prevent both airlines and the country of the offset project claiming the emission reduction – double counting – have also yet to be decided on. T&E aviation policy officer Andrew Murphy said: ‘ICAO promised a global measure that would deliver carbon neutral growth in 2020, but instead we are facing into another decade of delay with a lot of uncertainty over whether offsets will actually reduce emissions. Aviation’s climate problem is not going away anytime soon.’ European countries, along with the US, Canada and Mexico are among those supporting the deal at ICAO, but China, Russia and India have yet to sign up as talks continued over the weekend. After the assembly, the EU will assess the ICAO outcome and determine
Andrew Murphy concluded: ‘Not only has the EU’s ETS disproved sceptics from both within and beyond Europe, but it has served as a model for nascent trading systems in such countries as China and Mexico. Replacing the ETS with the promise of something to take effect in 2021 which is far less than global, which sets a weaker target and lacks environmental safeguards, is not the way to strengthen Europe or the world’s climate ambition.’ ICAO has been working for almost two decades on aviation’s climate impact and its latest deadline to produce a result is at its 2016 assembly this month. International aviation and shipping were not explicitly mentioned in the Paris agreement, leaving it unclear how their rapidly growing emissions were to be addressed. Aviation is currently responsible for an estimated 5% of global warming. Without a change in the current projections, emissions will increase by more than four times, potentially to account for 22% of global emissions in 2050. Web Address: www.transportenvironment.org www.transportnews-intl.com
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Passenger Growth Slowed in August
TRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
Aviation
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global passenger traffic data for August showing that demand (measured in total revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) climbed 4.6% compared to the yearago period. This represented a slowing from the 6.4% increase recorded in July (revised). August capacity (available seat kilometres or ASKs) increased by 5.8%, and load factor slipped 0.9 percentage points to 83.8%%.
rowth in passenger demand dipped to 4.6%. While that’s disappointing compared to the previous month’s performance, it is still healthy growth. And although terrorist attacks in Europe have dampened demand, the impact is ebbing,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.
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International Passenger Markets August international passenger demand rose 4.7% compared to August 2015. All regions recorded increases, but growth was dominated by airlines in the Middle East. Capacity climbed 6.5%, causing load factor to slide 1.4 percentage points to 83.9%. Asia-Pacific airlines’ August traffic climbed 5.6% compared to the year-ago period. Capacity rose 6.8% and load factor slipped down 0.9 percentage points to 81.9%. There are signs of Asian travelers continuing to be put-off by recent terrorism in Europe. Traffic on Europe-Asia routes grew just 1.5% in July, the most recent month for which route-specific figures are available, while international traffic growth on routes within Asia accelerated to 9.9%. European carriers saw August demand climb 3.3% year-on-year. European traffic continues to be affected by the impact of terrorism, however, there are indications this may be easing. Capacity rose 5.1%, which caused load factor to drop 1.6 percentage points to 86.6%--which still was the highest among regions.
August 2016 (% Year-On-Year)
World Share1
Rpk
Ask
Plf (%-Pt)2 Plf (Level)3
Total Market Africa Asia Pacific Europe Latin America Middle East North America
100.0% 2.2% 31.5% 26.7% 5.4% 9.4% 24.7%
4.6% 5.8% -0.9% 83.8% 1.0% 2.4% -1.0% 75.7% 7.8% 7.3% 0.3% 82.4% 2.7% 4.1% -1.2% 86.3% 3.2% 1.7% 1.1% 81.7% 9.9% 13.5% -2.7% 81.1% 1.5% 3.7% -1.9% 85.2%
(1)% of industry RPKs in 2015 (2)Year-on-year change in load factor (3)Load factor level
July 2016 (% Year-On-Year)
World Share1
Rpk
Ask
Plf (%-Pt)2 Plf (Level)3
Domestic Australia Brazil China P.R. India Japan Russian Federation US
36.4% 1.1% 1.4% 8.4% 1.2% 1.2% 1.3% 15.4%
4.3% 4.4% -0.1% 83.6% 1.2% 0.9% 0.2% 76.9% -6.3% -5.3% -0.8% 77.9% 12.0% 10.5% 1.1% 85.1% 23.2% 18.4% 3.2% 82.8% 1.9% -2.9% 3.4% 73.1% -2.7% -6.5% 3.3% 86.5% 1.0% 3.7% -2.3% 84.9%
(1)% of industry RPKs in 2015 (2)Year-on-year change in load factor (3)Load factor level
Middle Eastern carriers posted a 10.3% traffic increase in August, while capacity climbed 13.7%, resulting in a 2.5 percentage point fall in load factor to 81.2%. North American airlines’ international demand rose 1.8% compared to August a year ago. However, seasonally-adjusted traffic has risen at an annualized rate of 7% since March, supported by transpacific demand and leisure routes to Central America and the Caribbean. Capacity rose 3.8%, causing load factor to drop 1.7 percentage points to 85.3%. Latin American airlines experienced a 6.7% demand rise compared to the same month last year, helped by strong demand on international routes within the region, spurred in part by the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil. Capacity increased by 4.0% and load factor rose 2.1 percentage points to 84.0%. Carriers in this region were the only ones to see a rise in load factor compared to the year-ago period. African airlines’ traffic climbed 1.8% in August. International growth has tracked sideways since the start of the year, reflecting challenges in the major economies. Capacity rose 3.1%, with the result that load factor slipped 1.0 percentage point to 75.6%, lowest among regions. Domestic Passenger Markets Demand for domestic travel climbed 4.3% in August compared to August 2015, which was slightly exceeded by a 4.4% increase in capacity. Load factor slid 0.1 percentage points to 83.6%. All markets reported demand increases with the exception of Brazil and Russia, with India and China reporting double-digit rises. Russia’s domestic traffic fell 2.7% but the failure of Transaero last year has taken significant capacity out of the market, and load factor reached a record high for the month at 86.5%. It was also the highest among the domestic markets tracked by IATA. US airlines’ domestic traffic climbed just 1% year-on-year in August and traffic has trended sideways in seasonally-adjusted terms since late 2015. The Bottom Line: “Lower airfares are a major factor sustaining demand for air travel. And airline profitability is stronger than ever as a result of a better industry structure and efficiency gains. But the lingering impact of terrorist attacks in Europe earlier in the year reminds us that the aviation industry is vulnerable to many external factors beyond its control. The risks—including the normal ups and downs of the business cycle—won’t go away. The industry has improved resilience along with its profitability. That will be critical to responding quickly should the business environment change,” said de Juniac. Web Address: www.iata.org www.transportnews-intl.com
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TRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
Environment
Dieselgate 1st Anniversary: All Diesel Car Brands in Europe Are Even More Polluting Than Volkswagen – Study As Dieselgate turned one-year old recently, a new study by Transport & Environment (T&E) reveals that Volkswagen is currently selling the least polluting (Euro 6) diesel vehicles. Nonetheless, the marque caught cheating in the US also has the most grossly polluting Euro 5 vehicles on the road, which were sold between 2011 and 2015. The better performance of Volkswagen Euro 6 cars has nothing to do with the Dieselgate, but with better technology choices made before the scandal burst. The report Dieselgate: Who? What? How? also found that not one single brand complies with the latest air pollution limits (‘Euro 6’) for diesel cars and vans in real-world driving.
&E analysed emissions test data from around 230 diesel car models. Data were taken from the investigations conducted by the British, French and German governments, as well as a large public database. The carmakers’ ranking was built with on-road performance figures mostly measured in real world driving. The key findings per car brand are: Fiat and Suzuki diesel cars on average pollute 15 times more than the legal NOx limit; Renault-Nissan vehicles exceed the limit more than 14 times; General Motors’ brands Opel/Vauxhall pollute 10 times more while Volkswagen diesel cars pollute twice as much as the Euro 6 standard.
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followed by Germany (5.3 million), the UK (4.3 million), Italy (3.1 million), Spain (1.9 million) and Belgium (1.4 million). “The true scandal of Dieselgate in Europe is national regulators turning a blind eye to the glaring evidence of test cheating with the sole purpose of protecting their national carmakers or their own business. This is killing tens of thousands of people annually. We need a European watchdog to stop EU member states protecting their national champions and to ensure the single market for vehicles operates in the interests of all citizens,” Greg Archer said.
“Only a recall of all harmful diesel cars will clean up our air and restore credibility in Europe’s legal system.” Greg Archer, clean vehicles director at T&E, said: “One year after the US caught Volkswagen cheating, all carmakers keep selling grossly polluting diesel cars with the connivance of European governments. The automotive industry has captured its regulators, and European countries must now stand up for their citizens and stop this scandalous cover up. Only a recall of all harmful diesel cars will clean up our air and restore credibility in Europe’s legal system.” 29 million ‘dirty’ diesel cars and vans driving on Europe’s roads today T&E’s calculations also show that today 29 million diesel cars and vans are driving on Europe’s roads that we classify as ‘dirty’, meaning that, for Euro 5 cars, they are at least 3 times over the relevant NOx limit. Only one in four diesel vehicles registered since 2011 achieve these modest thresholds. These vehicles were approved for sale by national type approval authorities, mainly in Germany, France, the UK, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The largest number of ‘dirty’ diesels is found on French roads (5.5 million),
Cheating on environmental regulation is not a victimless crime. This causes premature deaths. The World Health Organisation has described worsening air pollution levels as a “public health emergency”. Last year, the European Environment Agency said that NO2, mainly created by diesel engines in urban areas, is responsible for an estimated 72,000 premature deaths in Europe. The majority of NO2-related premature deaths occur in Italy (21,600); 14, 100 in the UK; Germany (10,400); 7,700 in France; Spain (5,900) and 2,300 in Belgium. Web Address: www.transportenvironment.org
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Industry Report: Platooning Systems Such as from Peloton Offer Significant Fuel Efficiency & Safety Gains The North American Council on Freight Efficiency (NACFE) and Carbon War Room released a new report last week assessing the benefits and challenges of two-truck platooning. This is the latest in a series of confidence reports aimed to help truck fleets, manufacturers, and other end-users determine whether to adopt specific fuel efficiency technologies. The report concludes that emerging truck platooning systems can provide fleets with significant fuel savings and associated greenhouse gas and criteria pollutant reductions while providing clear financial incentives to adopt the latest active safety and collision mitigation systems.
ACFE’s two-truck platooning confidence report is the first to tackle a technology that is not yet commercially available, with two-truck platooning systems slated for commercial release in 2017. By conducting interviews with a wide range of fleets, OEMs, and technology experts and consulting a growing body of data from modelled, track, and on-road truck platoon testing, the report concludes fleets can expect an average of 7% fuel savings per truck while in an aerodynamic two-truck platoon, with an average overall savings of 4% per truck in “real world” conditions when factoring in traffic, terrain, and time when the trucks are not in platoon.
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“We are very pleased that NACFE’s report reflects how we view platooning - as an extremely important tool for fleets to improve safety and fuel efficiency that will be widely available very soon,” noted Josh Switkes, founder & CEO of platooning system developer Peloton Technology. “We think that while the NACFE report addresses fleets generally, many fleets will see even greater real world fuel savings
“Some fleets and others in the industry today may be getting distracted by stories about highly automated trucks, and what that may mean for the industry.” Fleets with higher percentages of on-highway mileage can see even greater average savings per truck. Independent testing done separately by NACFE, U.S. Department of Energy, and U.S. Department of Transportation have shown fuel efficiency benefits in this 7% average range across two-trucks. Using the industry standard SAE Type II fuel economy measurement methods, NACFE’s analysis showed 10% for the rear truck and 4.5% for the lead truck with platooning operations at a 40-foot gap and 65mph. “Some fleets and others in the industry today may be getting distracted by stories about highly automated trucks, and what that may mean for the industry,” noted NACFE Executive Director Mike Roeth. “Driver-assistive platooning is often mistakenly lumped in with talk about higher automation. In our TwoTruck Platooning Confidence Report, we wanted to make sure fleets don’t make a mistake by overlooking the real significant efficiency and safety benefits that driver-assistive two-truck
TRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
platooning can provide to fleets and drivers in the near-term. Platooning systems can also include higher automation in the future, but fleets should not wait to consider the benefits of the driver-assistive platooning systems coming to market in 2017.”
by optimizing routes to take advantage of platooning opportunities.” With the Peloton system commercially available next year, the NACFE report is optimistic about the viability of platooning to provide fleets concrete fuel savings and clear financial incentives to deploy advanced safety systems. The report explores both benefits and challenges for the technology, which is expected to be deployed initially within larger fleets with multiple trucks running on the same dedicated routes, which will provide easy solutions for dispatching trucks together and sharing disparate fuel savings across two trucks. The Peloton system also enables platooning between fleets, through the Platooning Network Operations Centre. The report relies on a number of studies from the European Commission, National Renewable Energy Lab, Daimler, Scania, Peloton and others spanning over 15 years to determine the certainty of fuel savings benefits.
Environment
“The partnership of NACFE and the Carbon War Room has developed into a tremendous resource for the trucking industry,” says Steve Boyd, Cofounder and Vice President of External Affairs at Peloton Technology. “Their focus on cutting through the hype to bring fleets and OEMs the facts lead to better decisions and faster adoption of efficiency technology across the industry. We wholeheartedly agree with their assessment that truck platooning is a real, viable solution to save fleets money and improve safety.”
NACFE is a non-profit organization dedicated to doubling the freight efficiency of North American goods movement. NACFE partnered with Carbon War Room, a non-profit founded by Sir Richard Branson to accelerate the adoption of business solutions to reduce carbon emissions and advanced the low-carbon economy, to launch TruckingEfficiency.org in 2014. Together, this effort has provided fleets with a wealth of independent, unbiased information to assess freight efficiency technologies.
Peloton Technology is a vehicle automation and connectivity company that is bringing new levels of safety, efficiency and analytics to the $700 billion U.S. trucking industry and other automotive markets. Peloton is backed by eight Fortune Global 500 companies across the transportation and technology industries including: Volvo Group, DENSO International America, UPS, Nokia Growth Partners, Intel Capital, Magna, Lockheed Martin, Castrol InnoVentures, Lytx, Sand Hill Angels, Birchmere Ventures and Band of Angels. For more information about the functionality of Peloton’s Driver Assistive Truck Platooning system, visit www.peloton-tech.com www.transportnews-intl.com
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TRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
Environment
Time to Take Vans out of Their Regulatory Black Hole The European haulage industry and green groups have jointly called for stricter rules for vans as transport carried out by vans continues to increase. In a letter, the organisations ask that the Commission uses its upcoming road package to level the playing field between vans and trucks.
nlike trucks, light commercial freight vehicles below 3.5 tons – socalled vans – do not have to comply with social legislations such as driving and rest times, restricted access to the profession or professional training requirements and licences for drivers.
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In addition, vans are not speed limited, do not pay road charges and routinely break air pollution regulations. A 2016 study by TNO found that in real-world conditions vans are emitting on average around 800 to 2,100 mg/ km, exceeding the official Euro 5 standards by
William Todts, T&E’s director for freight and climate, said: ‘Europe has a set of rules for more professional, social, safer and cleaner freight transport, but almost none of these rules apply to vans. This is driving the industry out of trucks, into the “wild west” vans sector. From a social, but also from an environmental and efficiency point of view, this policy doesn’t make any sense. We need to overhaul it and the new EU road legislation is the ideal place to start.’ Web Address: www.transportenvironment.org
“Europe has a set of rules for more professional, social, safer and cleaner freight transport, but almost none of these rules apply to vans.” four to 12 times. A similar range was observed by investigations in Germany, from 5 to 14 times. That means they are now dirtier than trucks since Euro VI trucks mostly meet the standards in real-world driving. In theory, vans are limited to 3.5 tonnes (loaded weight) which should limit their attractiveness for operators. However, vans are routinely overloaded; there are big vans that weigh over 2.5 tonnes empty, and weight limit enforcement is rare. Over the last 20 years the number of vans on our roads has increased dramatically. The rise of e-commerce is expected to further boost their growth. Commercial transport companies are increasingly using vans in order to carry out cross-border freight transport within EU boundaries. This causes serious distortion of the market and leads to disadvantages for hauliers using trucks. In addition, more vans on European roads lead also to decreases in road transport efficiency as they are carrying less transport than trucks. www.transportnews-intl.com
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A4A Applauds Passage of Historic International Aviation Climate Change Agreement Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, applauded the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for reaching an agreement to implement a global carbon offset system as a complement to industry and government advances in technology, sustainable alternative aviation fuels, operations and infrastructure measures to support the goal of achieving carbon neutral growth in international aviation from 2020.
pecifically, the agreement reached by the 191 nations at the ICAO Triennial Assembly represents the first global market-based measure (GMBM) agreed to for greenhouse gas emissions for an individual sector. The carbon offsetting system will be phased in starting in 2021 on a voluntary basis and will become mandatory for all countries, excluding the least developed countries and nations with very low levels of aviation activity, in 2027. Sixty-five countries, including the United States, have already signed up for the voluntary phases, representing both developed and developing nations and covering a wide geographic scope.
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The “historic agreement affirms that aviation continues to lead the way toward a greener future,” said A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio. “We thank the United States government for its steadfast commitment to building global consensus for this ground-breaking agreement and we remain committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to further build on our already strong environmental record.” A4A Vice President, Environmental Affairs Nancy Young highlighted the importance of achieving a single, global market-based measure, which prevents countries from imposing unilateral measures on international aviation, such as the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS).
TRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
“We applaud ICAO and its member nations from around the world for reaching a global agreement to address climate change in support of our commitment to achieving carbon neutral growth in international aviation from 2020,” said Young. “Having a single, globally-agreed market-based measure for international aviation ensures its role as a complement to our considerable technology, sustainable alternative aviation fuels, operations and infrastructure initiatives, sending a clear message that airlines will remain a green engine of economic growth into the future.” Under the terms of the agreement, only flights to and from covered countries will be subject to the carbon offset requirements. Notably, the GMBM is in the form of a carbon offsetting system, not a cap-and-trade system or a carbon emissions tax. The agreement on the GMBM is the second, major climate action to be agreed at ICAO this year. In February 2016, ICAO’s Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) recommended adoption of a set of carbon dioxide certification standards for future aircraft. The ICAO Council formally endorsed the CAEP-recommended standards in June 2016 and the final ICAO standards are expected to be published in early 2017. For more information about the airline industry, visit the website airlines.org and the blog, A Better Flight Plan, at airlines.org/blog
Deals
AerCap Confirms Placement of Five Embraer E-Jets E2 Aircraft to Borajet Airlines erCap Holdings N.V. announced it has confirmed placement of three Embraer E190-E2s and two E195-E2s to Turkish carrier, Borajet Airlines. The aircraft, on long term lease from AerCap’s order book with Embraer, will begin delivering to Borajet Airlines in 2018. The announcement was made at the Istanbul Airshow.
erCap is the launch lessor customer of Embraer’s E-Jets E2 second generation of this family of commercial aircraft with a total of 50 Embraer E190-E2s and E195-E2s on order.
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AerCap head of EMEA leasing, Kenneth Wigmore, said, “We are pleased to confirm our lease of five E-Jet family aircraft to Borajet Airlines and especially pleased to be the launch lessor customer of the aircraft type. The E-Jets E2 aircraft offer greater capacity and operational efficiency which will support Borajet’s growing network. We look forward to continuing to work with the Borajet team as the airline optimizes its fleet.” Fatih Akol, chairman of Borajet Airlines, said, “We are the fastest growing regional airline in Europe. We are adding to our fleet because of this success which is based on our strategy and the operation of current generation Embraer Jets. Borajet’s future plans include the addition of further next generation Embraer aircraft to our fleet. Our target investment is USD 1.5 billion. The first step of our investment is the induction of the five E-Jets E2 jets announced. Our investment is a proof of our commitment to, and confidence in, the Turkish airline industry. With special thanks to our passengers who have supported us and demanded this growth, we will continue to give our guests the ‘private aircraft comfort’ and quality of service they have learned to expect from Borajet.” “This agreement opens a new chapter in the relationship between AerCap, Borajet and Embraer. The E2 is the fleet smart solution that maximizes profitability and return on investment for airlines and lessors, while maintaining the leadership in passenger comfort achieved by the current E-Jets generation. For Borajet, the cockpit communality between the E-Jets generations, which requires less than three days of transition, minimises training costs, reduces complexity, and provides greater operational flexibility in aircrew utilisation,” said Arjan Meijer, vice president, Europe & Middle East, Embraer Commercial Aviation. For more information regarding AerCap, please visit www.aercap.com and follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/aercapnv.
C.H. Robinson Completes Acquisition of APC Logistics C.H. Robinson announced that it has finalized the acquisition of APC Logistics, a leading provider of freight forwarding and customs brokerage services to over 3,000 customers and suppliers in Australia and New Zealand. The $300 million AUD acquisition expands C.H. Robinson’s global presence and brings additional capabilities and expertise to the company’s portfolio. C.H. Robinson financed the acquisition and related fees and expenses with cash and funds drawn from the company’s existing revolving credit facility. The company expects the transaction to be modestly accretive to earnings. “We are excited that APC Logistics is now part of C.H. Robinson,” said John Wiehoff, chairman and chief executive officer of C.H. Robinson. “The marketplace response to this acquisition has been extremely positive since the announcement. We welcome APC’s customers and suppliers and our new colleagues to C.H. Robinson.” “With this acquisition, our customers will have an extraordinary opportunity to benefit from the additional services and scale of C.H. Robinson,” said Tony Considine, chief executive officer of APC Logistics. “I would like to thank all of our employees for their continued dedication to providing excellent service to our customers.” With the acquisition, C.H. Robinson will add a new region to its Global Forwarding division, Oceania, and APC will onboard onto C.H. Robinson’s global technology platform, Navisphere®. For more information, visit http://www.chrobinson.com
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Euro Garages and European Forecourt Retail Group (EFR) to Become a European Leader in Petrol Forecourt and Convenience Retailing Independent petrol forecourt and convenience retail operator’s Euro Garages (United Kingdom) and EFR (Benelux and France) have joined forces to become a European leader in the petrol forecourt retail sector. The combination of both companies is perfectly placed for further growth because of increased international scale and complementary strengths.
new holding company named Intervias has been established, with a small corporate office in London. EFR and Euro Garages will continue to operate under their own names with their current CEO’s and senior leadership teams.
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The merged group will be a leading independent petrol forecourt retailer in Europe, with around 1,450 locations and 8,500 employees. Euro Garages and EFR together will be serving more than 6 million customers a week through the management and operation of leading retail brands such as BP, ESSO, Shell, Texaco, Carrefour, Greggs, Louis Delhaize, Starbucks and Subway. The group has total pro forma gross annual revenues of around EUR 6 billion. Intervias will accelerate the transformation of the European petrol forecourt convenience sector, giving consumers access to an improved shopping experience with more leading global brands. EFR and Euro Garages will share best practices by leveraging EFR’s fuel purchasing and distribution expertise and international experience whilst benefiting from Euro Garages’ expertise in successfully managing brand partnerships and delivering retail excellence. The newly established holding company named Intervias, governing both EFR and Euro Garages, will be chaired by Tony DeNunzio, a renowned business leader with international retail and consumer goods experience at Asda, Maxeda, Dixons Carphone and Pets at Home. As Group Chairman, Tony will drive growth, both organically and through further international acquisitions. Tony DeNunzio, Chairman of Intervias: “I am excited to lead Intervias - the new combination of EFR and Euro Garages. They are both companies with an exceptional performance record. We will play a pivotal role in the further consolidation of the petrol forecourt retail sector. We have an ambitious retail growth strategy and I am proud to play a role in this process as Group Chairman.”
TRANSPORT NEWS OCTOBER 2016
Intervias will make significant investments in its people, operations, systems and locations to create the petrol forecourt retail company of the future. With the combined strengths of EFR and Euro Garages, the current forecourt petrol asset portfolios will be enhanced with the introduction of strong food-to-go and convenience brand partners to better serve clients and introduce a more comprehensive retail offer and shopping experience. EFR chief executive Officer Rika Coppens: “The merger will give European consumers access to leading global retail brands on petrol forecourt locations. People have busy lifestyles and are now looking for destinations which offer quality products and services in convenient locations. It is in our DNA to offer them the best retail experience. We are looking forward to benefitting from Euro Garages successful brand partnership model.” Euro Garages co-founder and chief executive Mohsin Issa: “We are very excited with this great combination of best-in-class operators, gaining a further commercial insight from the unique fuel expertise of EFR. Furthermore, I am very pleased with Tony DeNunzio’s appointment as our new Group Chairman. We are convinced he is the right person to lead the group; he brings a wealth of retail experience and expertise to drive our future growth plans.” Funds managed by TDR Capital LLP and the two brothers Mohsin & Zuber Issa, the founders of Euro Garages, will each own 50% of Intervias. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed no later than November 2016.
Deals
Nobina AB: MTR and Nobina Sign Agreement for Bus-For-Rail Services MTR and Nobina have signed an agreement regarding bus-for-rail services for the Stockholm commuter train system. The agreement enters into force on 11 December 2016 and runs for a period of 10 years, with an option for an additional four years. The agreement functions as a framework in which volumes and other details will be determined by infrastructure developments in the Stockholm region in the coming years.
am pleased with this agreement which ensures the provision of transport services for our shared customers in the event of scheduled commuter train cancellations as well as emergencies. We have chosen to cooperate with Nobina since we have jointly arrived at a customer-focused and efficient manner of organising and implementing bus-for-rail services,” says Dan Hildebrand, CEO of MTR Pendeltågen.
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Nobina has broad experience of successfully operating bus-for-rail services. An example of this is the commuter train cancellations during this summer, when Nobina was responsible for providing the lion’s share of bus-for-rail services and did so with a high level of customer satisfaction. In the agreement with MTR, bus-for-rail resources will increase in order to provide the customer with a quicker response in the event of disruptions in commuter train services.
“Nobina currently provides bus transport in all directions around the inner city of Stockholm on behalf of SL. This provides us with favourable conditions for promptly and efficiently identifying routes for replacement buses in tough situations. We regard our cooperation with MTR as an important factor for ensuring provision of the entire journey for our shared passengers – irrespective of whether everyday alignment between bus and train is involved or whether the dimensioning of bus-for-rail services is involved in cases of disruptions,” says Jan Bosaeus, MD Nobina Sverige AB. The information comprises such as Nobina AB (publ) is obliged to publicly disclose pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Securities Market Act. Through the above contact person, the information was submitted for publication at 4.00 pm CET on 6 October 2016. Nobina is the largest and most experienced public bus transport service provider in the Nordic region. The Company’s expertise in prospecting, tendering and active management of public bus transport contracts in combination with long-term delivery quality makes Nobina an industry leader in terms of profitability, development and initiatives that promote a healthier industry. Every day, Nobina ensures that more than one million people arrive at work, school or other activities by delivering contracted public bus transport services in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark. In addition, Nobina offers express bus services under the Swebus brand in the Swedish market. The Company has sales in excess of SEK 8 billion (2015/16), approximately 10,000 employees, and is headquartered in Solna, Stockholm.
Intrepid Announces Deal with Boeing Intrepid Aviation announced that it has concluded a revised agreement with the Boeing Company in respect of its purchase commitment for six firm B777300ER aircraft. Under this revised agreement, the first two aircraft will continue to deliver new on long-term lease to Philippine Airlines later this month and in December this year, as first announced in June 2015. In respect of the remaining four aircraft: Two will be cancelled and instead Intrepid will acquire from Boeing two new B747-8F freighter aircraft to be delivered in 2017 and subject to long-term lease with a current Boeing customer of the type; and two will be rescheduled from late 2017 and early 2018 to 1st half 2019. “While we are confident in the long-term value proposition of the B777-300ER, we saw value for our business in converting a portion of our investment commitment with Boeing into earlier and uniquely capable B747-8F freighters on very long lease to one of the industry’s premier cargo operators,” said Doug Winter, Intrepid’s President & Chief Commercial Officer. For more information on Intrepid Aviation, www.intrepidaviation.com
For more information, see Nobina’s website: www.nobina.com
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