100 posts
Railways for the many, not high speed rail for the few
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Labour will be travelling on the wrong line if it gives its wholehearted support for the proposed HS2. This is one infrastructure scheme that deserves to hit the buffers. Labour absolutely must support a better rail network, but what we really need i...
Scrapping ‘Maastricht Hop’ Does Little for Belgian Train Punctuality
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Since last month, Maastricht is no longer directly connected by train to Brussels. Although it’s uncomfortable for the thousands of international students and expats working in Maastricht nowadays, it’s not the end of the world, according...
Water Will Be the Critical Limiting Factor of 21st Century Production
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"Morgan Stanley’s Global Investment Committee recently released a report in which it argues that the “perfect storm” of declining water supply and and rising demand are likely to make water the critical limiting resource of our time. The re...
Conflicting Business Models at Singapore’s Airport
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Singapore’s Changi may be “the world’s most fabulous airport,” according to Scott McCartney of the Wall Street Journal. To be sure, the airport’s amenities are amazing. How they are operated, however, detracts in certain respects with the g...
Germany – Stuttgart Station gets popular ‘Go!’
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The construction of Stuttgart 21, the billion-Euros station project in the capital of Baden-Württemberg, can finally go ahead. Yesterday a 58,8 percent majority of the 7,6 million voters gave their green light. For Winfried Kretschmar, the Green pre...
New EEA report: European transport sector must be ambitious to meet targets
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Emissions of many pollutants from transport fell in 2009. But this reduction may only be a temporary effect of the economic downturn, according to the latest annual report on transport emissions from the European Environment Agency (EEA). This new EE...
Lithuania and Latvia will act together to pursue common goals
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President Dalia Grybauskaitė discussed with the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, the continuity of bilateral cooperation in implementing regional energy and transport projects, and the representation of interests signif...
Ryanair Again
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It’s that time of year again. But it’s nice to know that the reach of Ryanair’s infamous calendar has spread far and wide. You may like this piece on the NY Daily News. BY Lindsay Goldwert NEW YORK DAILY NEWS … Continue reading →...
Boris, Foster and the cross-channel metro
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Contingency planning. Never sexy, always worthwhile. In tonight’s evening standard, there’s a double page spread on future London airport capacity. Alongside the by now well known Boris island idea sit plans now developed by Sir Norman Fo...
Commission adopts plan for €50 billion boost to European networks
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The European Commission has tabled a plan which will fund €50 billion worth of investment to improve Europe's transport, energy and digital networks. By focussing on smart, sustainable and fully interconnected transport, energy and digital netwo...
Forget about the crisis: The EU wants to put a man on the moon (well, at least a robot)
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We'll resist the rather too obvious "EU officials are on another planet" jokes. You might think that all available resources are going into saving the EU countries that stand on the verge of financial collapse. Well, there's always some cash left for...
The case for night trains from Brussels
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As part of my relentless pursuit to be green with my travels, I’m always taking the train. But for a trip I’m planning 3-6 December to Berlin, my patience is really running low. To get to Berlin from London I … Continue reading U...
Leading expert about electric cars: "To me, this electric hype is inexplicable"
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This Detroit Electric car appeared over 90 years before the much hyped "stimulus injection" Chevrolet Volt manufactured by Obama´s Government Motors hit the market. The green lobby, assisted by its numerous supporters in the media, has been bus...
EESC calls for more action on passengers' rights
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Last week, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) organized a public hearing on passengers' rights. Views were shared on the current problems and suggestions were made for the upcoming revision of the passengers rights. One of the problems...
Air Passenger Rights Day 2011
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Yesterday European Consumer Centres' were celebrating Air Passenger Rights Day 2011. Under a motto "Pack a little consumer know-how, Europe offers you free help and advice" at 27 airports (in 23 countries) free advice was given to consumers...
Devrait-on demander la Lune à l’Europe ?
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Rien ne proclame Domination technologique, ambition et prestige mieux que d’aller dans l’espace, ce n’est d’ailleurs pas pour rien que l’Inde et la Chine ont leur programme spatial. L’Europe n’est pas mal pl...
The latest waste of time and money video from the European Commission
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The Transport White Paper is coming to save us! Look kids, out of the window a stream of paper is going to deliver modern transport for you by 2050! Please, please can someone tell me why the European Commission spends cash on this? The video is well...
The 2050 from Brussels-Schuman
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The EU Transport White Paper sets out transport aspirations our political system is entirely incapable of delivering. Norman Baker, the Lib Dem transport minister, gave a response to the new White Paper that was classic Bore at the Golf Club …...
Launched report investigates EU transport policies & sustainability
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Baltic Sea Region Transport policies are crucial not only for the economy but also for security and development. The recently launched report "Implications of the EU transport policy on development of sustainable transport in the Baltic Sea Region"...
Denied boarding? Don't let them deny you compensation as well!
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Recently many students approached me to ask to write their master thesis about rights that consumers have while they book a flight, which then gets delayed or cancelled. They claim that they and their friends (aka: consumers) are not familiar with th...
Crash at Cork Airport
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A crash happened this morning before 10am at Cork Airport. Manx2 Flight NM7100 from Belfast to Cork crashed in fog on its third attempt to land. 6 people have been confirmed dead. 12 people were on board the plane. The Airport is currently closed. Al...
Medgovernance Thematic Seminar on Transports in PACA
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The Mediterranean, this sea which draws us together: what integrated transport policy? Is the title for the thematic seminar focused on transports that will be held in Marseille (PACA) on February 17, 2011. The event is organised in the fra...
Verkehrspolitik
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This is a completely revised German text of the earlier blog concerning the Rhine freight-railway axis. It contains hefty criticism of the German transport policy. ER Europa braucht klare verkehrspolitische Prioritäten Eine stärkere Verlagerung d...
Cablegate reveals what Turks want: an Astronaut
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Turkey Pushed for Its Own Astronaut on Space Shuttle from Yahoo news In exchange for buying Boeing jets, Turkey wanted a Turkish astronaut to fly on a NASA space shuttle, according to a classified state department message recently released by Wikilea...
Getting passenger cars and lorries off European highways
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Over the coming 30 years the volume of intra- European passenger and goods traffic is expected to rise substantially, due to more intensive economic activity and leisure time. Most of the extra traffic will turn to the roads, thereby causing more sat...
The Snow Chaos that wasn’t…
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After two weeks of Christmas-related absence the Eurobee has buzzed back from Germany. Her flight home was horrible – delays, cancellations, gate changes, and a near-diversion to Birmingham. “Poor Eurobee,” said her friends. “...
Spilled water, wasted funds? – A special look at a special EU Court of Auditors report
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"Water is one of the most important resources for social and economic development. Water supply for domestic consumption is essential for human health and wellbeing." This is a very general though strong statement, one that few would argue against.
High-speed Europe ?
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The European rail system is one of the means of transportation that has not been updated over the past decade. It is still difficult to book a ticket in another country and make the true European journey workable. France could take a leading role in...
A knock on the door telling you to get off in Dortmund – not the best rail comms
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By popular demand here’s the story on my return from Billund (getting to Billund is here). It all started fine. I waited for the bus to Kolding at a freezing cold bus stop outside Lego HQ but the bus arrived, departed, and got me to Kolding wit...
European space exploration
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Space exploration is an important issue for mankind’s future, and the collaboration between countries is the best way to progress in this field and confront the challenges we are faced with at present. Here is an illustrating video.
High-speed lines. A journey through Europe.
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High-speed Lines” is a human-orientated documentary about the growing success of high-speed trains and its extending network throughout Europe. Listen to the stories of train passengers and train professionals.
Köln-London €66.50, or Bruxelles-London £121, booking today on exactly the same trains – odd, no?
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Above are screenshots taken within the last twenty minutes (i.e. between 0900 and 1000 on 18th November). The first is for prices for a ticket between Bruxelles Midi and London St Pancras, second class, non-flexible, for the morning of Saturday 4th D...
Bruxelles Midi (Belgium) to Vejle st (Denmark) by train
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I need to get to Billund in Denmark for work in December, and as I’m trying to be green this year I’m going to take the train. I’m in Brussels the day before, so will leave from there, and I need to get to Vejle, the town closest to...
Alstom v. Eurostar and Siemens
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I was going to write about this case last week, but I had to wait until the text of the judgement appeared on Bailii. The case is Alstom Transport v. Eurostar International and Siemens [2010] EWHC 2747 (Ch), of October 29, 2010. The dispute in questi...
Regulation on a European Rail Network for Competitive Freight
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Regulation (EU) No 913/2010 concerning a European rail network for competitive freight has been published in the Official Journal. The regulation aims at the establishment of international rail corridors for a European rail network for competitive fr...
Is this the original 'Heavy Plant Crossing'?
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UK crops to face water supply crunch, may relocate...
Geography not her strong point
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The Lib/Dem vacuum that is Baroness Sarah Ludford has recieved a splendid slap down from the vetran Luxemburger Astrid Lulling this afternoon. Ludford was fretting about getting home from Strasbourg given the strikes and so on in France,Dear Mr Welle...
Solidarity with French strikers!
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France (from Workers Liberty) Oct 19, 2010 French pension protests intensify, govt stands firm Oct 18, 2010 New trucker, rail action adds to pressure on Sarkozy Oct 17, 2010 French to hit streets anew over pension reform Oct 17, 2010 French march in...
If the EU did satellites, they'd probably be...
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It is hard to think of a better example of how not to run a large-scale infrastructure project than the EU's Galileo satellite system. In a new briefing we set out the latest cost over-runs and delays to a project that is now expected to be completed...
Rubbish airlines league table – Viking, you win
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There’s nothing quite like sitting for 5 hours in an uncomfortable seat with a fat, tattooed lump of a man reclining the seat in front of you, forcing a sharp ridge of protruding aluminium into your shin. The distance between my face and seat i...
Times are gettin’ tougher than tough
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Money’s Gettin’ Cheaper says Spoon (Don Weller sax, Brian Dee piano, Len Skeat bass) Protect public services lobby +++TAKE ACTION NOW+++ Download the briefing and infosheet (pdf) and model letter to you MP (Word) +++TAKE ACTION NOW+++ &#...
Extreme Europe
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How should we deal with the rise of the far-right in European politics? It was a question that was debated over in the UK following the election of 2 MEPs from the British National Party in the 2009 European elections, and it is increasingly pressing...
Britain: Judgement in favor of the ban on direct flights to the occupied Cyprus.
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Source: Naftemporiki.gr Not on direct flights from England to occupied Cyprus/Lost and the Court of Appeals British Appeals Court supported the previous court order to retain the ban on direct flights to occupied Cyprus (after the appeal filed by...
Addressing C02 emissions from air traffic
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On October 9th 2010, the 192 member governments of the ICAO have agreed on a resolution to address C02 emissions from air traffic, which has rightly been dubbed “historic”. It calls upon • a 2 percent annual improvement of fuel efficiency up to...
BLOG ACTION DAY 2010 ON WATER
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Today is the international Blog Action Day 2010, on the issue of water. I think we should all welcome this initiative. Water is both literally and metaphorically, “vital” for the very future of life on Earth. You might think that as Europ...
Blog Action Day 2010: Water
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We registered our blog to the Blog Action Day 2010 as you can see. Normally it was better to write about one issue/topic on water (usage, unsafe or unhygienic cause illnesses etc.) but actually, not only I wanted to rise the awareness of this activit...
The Connection: Water and Energy Security
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The energy security of the United States is closely linked to the state of its water resources. No longer can water resources be taken for granted if the U.S. is to achieve energy security in the years and decades ahead. At the same time, U.S. water...
The Connection: Water and Energy Security
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The energy security of the United States is closely linked to the state of its water resources. No longer can water resources be taken for granted if the U.S. is to achieve energy security in the years and decades ahead. At the same time, U.S. water...
The airplane of the future
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A simple white paper napkin depicts the future: at an informal dinner with aviation professionals the lead technical design engineer of Boeing sketches his personal vision of the airplane of the future, which is so futuristic that it even outranges t...
Diana supports calls for EU to adopt foreign driver prosecution system
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Diana has given her support to the call by traffic police heads across Europe who are urging the EU to adopt new rules so drivers can be punished for offences they commit abroad.
EU rules to increase costs of travels to Ireland
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Oh that single market - why does it always round costs up?THE cost of taking a flight both within Ireland and to a range of UK cities is set to increase by €8 per ticket.The Sunday Independent has learned that the EU Commission issued a formal noti...
European Mobility Week 2010
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From 16 to 22 September 2010, hundreds of towns and cities across Europe and beyond will take part in European Mobility Week, the biggest global event dedicated to sustainable urban travel. The 2010 campaign theme – Travel Smarter, Live Better –...
Mobility: does it consist of an equal sum?
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It is a fact that Brussels has one of the best if not the best transport network system in Europe. Hence it is quite easy and even enjoyable to consider having a yearly car-free day. The same may not be said for the rest of Europe. Suffice to thi...
Controlling The Uncontrollable: Spain’s National Addiction To The Use Of “Dinero B”
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Well, before we go any further, I would like to make clear that what I am going to talk about in this post is not anything illegal, or even irregular (things like this must be going on in almost all Euro Area countries even as I write). Bending of th...
EU Funded Water Projects Handed Over to Govt
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The European Union (EU) funded Rural Water Supply Sector Support (RWSSS) projects in the villages of Bonto, Kombo East, Berending, Kombo South and Foni Bintang were handed over to the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matte...
Traintastic ideas for High Speed 1
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Eurostar image from Wikipedia As you know, the HS1 high speed route has a lot of importance for me. Not only is it my route to Brussels – vital for work – but also to London. So with HS1 in the news today, some thoughts… 1) Commu...
I tried Villo! and I liked it
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They’ve become impossible to ignore. Bright yellow bikes have invaded Brussels. They are called Villo!, which is a smart contraction of the words ville (city) and vélo (bike). Public bikes have existed for years here but until a few months ag...
Know Before You Go!
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As schools in London break up for the summer, it’s worth remembering your rights before you leave for your holiday in Europe. From air travel to mobile phones, there are plenty of ways in which EU rules ensure people are treated fairly while tr...
Court supports EU decision on fuel additive
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Europe's highest court has rejected a claim from an American company that an EU decision to restrict a potentially risky chemical compound was unlawful. The outcome will be seen as a vindication of the precautionary principle, the ‘better-safe-than...
Ryanair to make customers fight giant lizard, jump through ring of fire, to board plane.
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Budget airline Ryanair have announced new procedures for passengers from today, which will involve passengers wrestling with a six foot lizard, leaping through a ring of fire, and disarming an explosive device by cutting the correctly coloured wire.
