Shibuya Hikarie EMU enters service #transport #transit #rail

Shibuya Hikarie EMU enters service - Railway Gazette

The new train set is named Shibuya Hikarie which is actually a name of a shopping complex newly opened in Shibuya last year.

New Tokyu Line in Tokyo

New Transit Around the World: Transport Issues of the Day #transit #transport #rail

Newly started Helsinki tram is New-generation transit.

FINNISH minister of transport Mrs Merja Kyllönen unveiled the first of a new fleet of 40 low-floor LRVs for Helsinki City Transport (HKL) at Transtech's Otanmäki facility on June 13. - International Rail Journal

Helsinki new LRV

 Sydney plans driverless trains.  They decided to follow international examples of London, Barcelona, Paris, Singapore and Dubai.

The New South Wales government announced on June 6 that trains on the North West Rail Link in Sydney would be driverless, and all stations would have platform screen doors.

North West Rail Link in Sydney

They didn't quote Japanese examples but there ate many.

Yurikamome in Tokyo

Seaside Line in Yokohama

News on Dreamliner - Transport Issue of the Day #transport #aviation

Dreamliner is Good to Keep Going, FAA and Boeing Tell Congress - Travel Pulse

B787

Boeing set to confirm plans for larger 787 Dreamliner - sources - Reuters

Larger B787 may compete against A350.

ANA Considers Ending AirAsia Tieup on Japan Discount Carrier: Transport Issue of the Day #LCC #aviation #transport

Bloomberg: 

ANA Considers Ending AirAsia Tieup on Japan Discount Carrier

Wonder if LCC can be competitive in Japan.

Why AirAsia's load factor has been so low?

Male train drivers wearing skirts in Sweden: Transport Issues of the Day #rail #transit #transport

A Swedish rail company recently banned to wear short pants which used to be allowed before. So the male drivers decided to wear skirts. If male skirts are OK, why not shorts?

http://bbc.in/11MGMes

Another link on Washington Post.

A Swedish Train Driver

Solar-Powered Rail: Transport Issue of the Day #rail #transit #transport

Railway Gazette

Solar-powered rail starts operation in Hungary.  The speed is 25 km/h - not so bad.

Solar-Powered Railcar in Hungary

IRJ

IRJ (International Railway Journal) also featured this new railway service.

Solar-Powered Railcar

Solar Power Today

Solar-Powered Railcar

It seems this Hungarian railcar is not the first solar-powered train.  There is a train powered by solar energy which runs between Paris and Amsterdam.  Uh, well this is solar-powered maybe but it says "the tunnel will generate enough electricity to power all the trains in Belgium for the equivalent of one day per year."

In that case, this Hungarian train can be regarded as almost first solar-powered railcar.

Station Architecture: White Plains Station (Metro North Railroad)

The other day, I posted about Scarsdale Station.  If I ride two more stations, that will be White Plains Station.  The station itself is rather boring but I am intrigued by the clock tower.  This maybe the symbol of White Plains.

White Plains Station

Clock Tower of White Plains Station

The rail service in this station started in 1844.  The railway company was New York and Harlem Railroad which is one of the first railroads in the US.

White Plains Station in old days

Before I forget, I paste the link to the information about farmers market in Westchester.  It's summer time now and there are lots of things to do outside.

Interesting Station Architects Proposed in Riyadh: Transport Issues of the Day

Elevated gardens at station inspired by sand dunes - Railway Gazette

Olaya Station designed by Gerber Architekten of Germany

The gardens look marvelous.  I want to visit here some day when it's constructed.

from press release by Gerger Architekten

Railway Gazette reported another urban oasis in Saudi Arabia.

Qasr Al Hokm Station on Riyadh Metro Network Designed by Snøhetta of Norway

Furthermore interesting metro station.

King Abdullah Financial District metro station proposed by Zaha Hadid

KAFD metrostation by Zaha Hadid Architects

This is like a spaceship.

Kawasaki Rail Car: Transport Issue of the Day

Railway Gazette: Washington orders more Kawasaki metro cars.

7000 cars will be delivered by 2018.

Metro of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority by Kawasaki

Yonkers Daily Voice: Kawasaki Celebrates 25 Years in Yonkers.

25th Anniversary of Kawasaki Rail Car in Yonkers

Top 10 Airport & Destination Weddings: Transport Issues of the Day

CAPA: Evolution of top 10 passenger airports (2001-2012)

Evolution of top 10 passenger airports: 2001 to 2012

Top 10 passenger airports (CAPA) 

Travel Market Report: Same-Sex Destination Weddings Take Off as Growth Market

Destination wedding has become popular and this applies to gay market as well.

CAPA World Aviation Yearbook 2013: Transport Issue of the Day #aviation #transportation

CAPA published World Aviation Yearbook.  

It's downloadable.
Here are some of the interesting statistics.

Passengers % Increase (Source: CAPA)

The title says that legacies stand still but does it really stand?  In any case, the interesting part is that between 2011 and 2012, even LCC reduced the growth rate and the rapid growth of Emirates and Etihad Airways is remarkable.

World's top aviation countries by seats:

1. USA
2. China
3. UK
4. Germany
5. Japan

LCC Capacity Share of Total Seats (Source: CAPA)

Quater of seats capacity is by LCC.

Transport Issue of the Day: All Clear for Sequester for Air Traffic Control #aviation #transportation

Statement from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

the recently enacted Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013 will allow the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to transfer sufficient funds to end employee furloughs and keep the 149 low activity contract towers originally slated for closure in June open for the remainder of fiscal year 2013.

 No worries during the holiday season starting from Memorial Day.  Good News!

News about Dreamliner : Transport Issue of the Day #transport #aviation #dreamliner

Travel Pulse: NTSB to Conduct "Urgent" New Rounds of Tests on Dreamliner Batteries

Travel Pulse: United Gives Dreamliner Wings on May 20, LOT to Follow in June and July

UA inauguration of B787 will be on May 20 between Houston and Chicago.  It will start international flight from Denver to Tokyo on June 10.

Ethiopian Airlines started Dreamliner services from April 27.
Qatar also started service.
LOT plan from June 7 between Toronto and Warsaw and from July between Warsaw and JFK.

UA's B787 Dreamliner

CAPA Global Aviation Industry Outlook #aviation #transport: Transport Issue of the Day

CAPA revealed its Global Aviation Industry Outlook 2013.

Here are several interesting tables.  Didn't know that HND is No. 3 in the world.  Most of the capacity is for domestic services, though.

The world's top 20 airports by capacity offered
Source: CAPA

All Nippon Airways provide 10th largest capacity (again, perhaps due to its large capacity for domestic services).  Other interesting carriers are Ryanair who comes No.9, easyJet of No.13.  LCC are growing.

The world top 20 airlines by seats offered
Source: CAPA

Divergence of growth.

Passengers % increase
Source: CAPA

Korean Air to increase North American strength #aviation #transport : Transport Issue of the Day

CAPA:

Modest achiever Korean Air to increase North American strength, tap new markets & look for partners

The Korean Air has cost advantage over Japanese airlines.  Japanese counterparts cost twice as much according to CAPA.

The capacity of Korean Air's seats of North America routes is increasing.  Now its share is 16% of its total seats.  North America is their core market.

Korean Air international capacity (seats) by region: 24-30/6/13

Airlines in Transition : Transport Issue of the Day #aviation #transport

CAPA: Airlines in Transition - How full service airlines are reshaping models to be more competitive

The share of LCC surges.
























The dominance of LCC in Europe is quite remarkable because FSC are still dominant overall.

Average seats per airline for alliance members and other airlines: 15 Apr 2013 to 21 Apr 2013 (Source: CAPA)

In Asian countries, a new business model of having LCC subsidiaries.

LCC subsidiaries of Asia-Pacific FSCs Source: Professor Rigas Doganis

A business model of SQ is interesting in particular.  While SQ is a full service long haul carrier, it has full service short haul carrier Silk Air which is a 100% subsidiary.  SQ also has 32.9% of Tiger Airways which is a typical short haul no frill LCC.  What's more, it also has long haul LCC Scoot which is 100% controlled by SQ.