A new steam-age of "clean" hydrogen-powered trains has been suggested for the forthcoming Wales and Borders services, a Plaid Cymru AM has said. Simon Thomas made the call off the back of research he commissioned on the potential to developing hydrogen infrastructure for transport in Wales. Hydrogen-fuelled trains emit osteam and condensed water and are ideal for both urban and long-distance … [Read more...]
Features
Driver training overlooked in new EU safety plan
A new package of EU transport proposals misses enhancements to driver training, says IAM RoadSmart. The Third Mobility Package was put forward by the European Commission includes proposals for new safety features to be fitted on all new cars sold. It has been suggested these changes could have as drastic an impact on road injuries and fatalities as the compulsory wearing of seat belts … [Read more...]
Automated vehicles will reduce and alter crashes
Serious crashes on inter-urban roads may be slashed by a quarter over the next 30-40 years with the introduction of automated vehicles. But the ride may be far from smooth, with a mixed fleet transition and vital need for roads that cars can read, according to a EuroRAP report. The report, the third in the “Roads that Cars Can Read” series, examines the relationship between road … [Read more...]
Investment growing in automotive sector
According to the latest data, annual EU investment into R&D by the automobile and parts sector has risen by 7.4% to reach an all-time high of €53.8 billion. This, and many other facts about the industry, were compiled by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) in its ‘Automobile Industry Pocket Guide’, published on the occasion of the association’s Annual General Meeting … [Read more...]
Newslines 12 June
Suzuki GB latest sales event will take place next weekend. Visitors to any of Suzuki’s network of 157 dealers will be able to take advantage of £1,000 off the recommended retail price of Ignis, Swift (except Sport), Baleno, Vitara and S-Cross by ordering this weekend and registering their new car by the 30 June. Almost three quarters (70%) of women living in Cardiff never ride a bike for … [Read more...]
Brittany Ferries will boost sailings after Brexit
Brittany Ferries will charter two new cruise-ferries to serve its long-haul UK to Spain routes in 2021. The latest investment underlines the company’s commitment to Portsmouth and to its Spanish routes. It comes after work began this spring on a new LNG cruise ferry called Honfleur to serve its most popular Portsmouth – Caen crossing. Like Honfleur, which arrives in 2019, both … [Read more...]
Hundreds of jobs go as Discovery production goes abroad
Hundreds of jobs will be shelved in the Midlands after Land Rover today announced plans to move Discovery production to its new Slovakian plant early next year. The Solihull plant employs 10,000 people and will be cleared out to make way for a new range of electric models in the early part of the next decade which will use a multi-mode platform for Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models, so … [Read more...]
Taffs Well to become Metro trains hub
A new state of the art train depot will open in Taffs Well as part of plans for the South Wales Metro, Economy Secretary Ken Skates has announced. The Welsh Government will invest nearly £100m in the new Transport for Wales depot which will house and service 36 of the new Metro vehicles operating on the Taff Vale lines. The depot will also become the base for 400 train crew, 35 Metro vehicle … [Read more...]
eRallyX enters the calendar from 2020
The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council has approved plans for the FIA World Rallycross Championship to be an electric series from 2020. IMG has collaborated with the FIA and a number of car manufacturers on this project for the last eighteen months, whilst working hard to ensure privateers can also compete in the new Championship. It will continue to work closely with the car manufacturers in … [Read more...]
Britain’s top ten car ads
Automotive expert HPI has revealed the top ten list of TV car adverts following a poll amongst its team of motoring editors and analysts. Derren Martin, head of current valuations at HPI, said, “Over the years we’ve seen some outstanding, memorable car adverts ranging from the epic and Hollywood blockbuster-esque to the more subtle and clever. "Sometimes they are funny, some are like mini … [Read more...]