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SA’s arterial routes on the road to disaster
Chris Jenkins, The Mercury
Faced by an arterial meltdown, transport lobbyists are calling for a return to rail transportation to alleviate the “unacceptable and growing levels” of congestion.
Alarming reports show that the country’s main arterial routes are being “pounded to destruction” by heavy vehicles and that some roads may only last another five years.
Among those urging for greater efforts to speed up the revival of rail transport is Mike Patterson, the chairperson of the Zululand Chamber of Business’s Empangeni division and a long-time head of the region’s division of the South African Road Federation.
“What we need to do is to provide the infrastructure that will transform rail transport into a viable alternative to the present transport system,” he said. “Bottlenecks and delays caused by broken-down and overturned trucks are now a daily occurrence. We need solutions, and very quickly.” ..
(2 July 2007)
Irish Rail unveils €1.3bn Dublin transport plan
Elaine Edwards, The Irish Times
Irish Rail has unveiled what it says will be the most important piece of infrastructure in the State to allow people shift from private to public transport.
The new €1.3 billion underground interconnector for Dublin’s Dart light rail network, set for completion by 2015, will involve a 5.3-kilometre tunnel under the River Liffey between Heuston Station and the Docklands. Extensions of the Dart line are also planned for Maynooth, Co Kildare, and Dunboyne, Co Meath. ..
“Together with the electrification of sections of the Maynooth, Drogheda and Kildare routes, it would result in a fully integrated rail network, linking with Luas and Metro at key points, allowing high quality, high frequency, easy interchange commuting across Leinster,” Iarnród Éireann’s website states.
It claims the project will complete the process of quadrupling Dart and commuter passenger numbers from 25 million per annum to 100 million per annum. ..
(28 June 2007)
A new and improved public transport system vital for Cuba’s development
Cuba Daily News
Making optimum use of the massive resources that the Cuban government is investing in the rehabilitation of the country’s transportation network demands a high level of organization, commitment and efficiency from workers and officials at all levels. This was expressed by Transportation Minister Jorge Luis Sierra at the Cuban parliament on Thursday.
Sierra stressed that the effort is indispensable for the economic development of the nation.
Public transportation will gradually improve and a large number of buses will arrive in Cuba in the coming months, he said. The arrival of the new buses, announced during the last ordinary session of the parliament, took longer than planned because of contract complications that are now resolved.
The new vehicles will gradually be incorporated over the next few years. Prior to that, it is necessary to create the administrative conditions and maintenance capability to guarantee the best and longest use of the units, the official noted.
(30 June 2007)
This is a spiffier website that Cuba’s Prensa Latina, but the writiing is dreary, if this article serves as an example. Under capitalism or socialism, speeches by bureaucrats are b-o-r-i-n-g. -BA
Palace freezes fare hike directive
Jefferson Antiporda, Manila Times
The President has overturned a decision of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to remove the 50-centavo discount in jeepney fares beginning Monday. ..
The Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization appealed to President Arroyo to reconsider the decision. “This P7.50 fare was granted to us two years ago by the LTFRB and it is only proper for us to have it implemented,” said ACTO President Efren de Luna.
The fare discount was petitioned by Tulip Urban Homeowners’ Association Inc. last November who cited the steady decrease in the prices of oil products in the world market. The discount was supposed to last for only 45 days starting December 11, but it was extended indefinitely after fuel prices continued to drop.
When fuel prices began to climb again, ACTO and another transport group, Pasang Masda, told the LTFRB it was time to remove the discount. De Luna said his group is seriously considering a transport strike in order to show to the government how vital their demands are.
He said the transport sector, especially jeepney drivers and operators, have been suffering since January because of rising fuel prices. ..
(30 June 2007)
