#public transport

#public transport

South Korea has launched a nationwide energy-saving campaign, enforcing an odd-even vehicle restriction system for public-sector cars based on licence plate numbers. Authorities urge voluntary compliance from private vehicle owners.

The new trams are 33.5 metres long, with a maximum capacity of 281 passengers, 64 of whom can be seated. The maximum speed will be 70 km/h.

Work from home where possible: displaces oil use from commuting, particularly where jobs are suitable for remote work. This approach can significantly lower overall oil demand.

The Waterloo and City line, known as 'The Drain', is made even more niche by the fact that it hasn't been open on the weekend since 2020. In the pandemic the line was suspended, but when the Waterloo and City reopened in June 2021 it only did so on weekdays. While it previously operated on Saturdays, for the last six years it's been closed all weekend.

Construction work at the Regionalbuszentrum Schaffhausen is scheduled to begin on 2 March 2026, as VBSH details on its website. Commissioning and testing are planned for mid-2027, with definitive operations starting in the third quarter of 2027. In parallel, additional overnight charging stations will be installed at the Ebnatring depot hall, with commissioning aligned to the RBZ timeline.

Currently, BYD has already launched several new models built on this platform, including the B12.b LF, B12.b LE, B12.b HF, B13.b, and the B18.b (available in both long and short wheelbase versions). In the near future, 10m and 15m models will also be introduced, and all upcoming BYD eBuses for the European market will gradually migrate to this new generation platform.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has confirmed on January 23rd the operators that will deliver the first phase of its new bus franchising system, bringing buses back under public control for the first time since deregulation in the 1980s. The move places Liverpool among a small group of English regions outside London to adopt a franchised public transport model, fundamentally changing how local bus services are planned, funded and delivered.

The new section of Metrotranvia 7 in Milan, operated by ATM Milano, connecting the Adriano district to the M1 underground station in Precotto and the M5 underground station in Bicocca, was officially opened in the presence of the Mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, the Councillor for Mobility, Arianna Censi, the Councillor for Public Works, Marco Granelli, the CEO of ATM, Alberto Zorzan, and the President of MM, Elio Franzini.

Pubgoers who want to drive essentially won't be able to drink any alcohol under proposals announced as part of a new road safety strategy. The government aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain's roads by 65 per cent by 2035, and by 70 per cent for children under 16. The drink-drive limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is currently 35 micrograms of alcohol

London City Airport has introduced a drop-off fee, ending its status as the last London airport without such a charge. The fee will be 8 for up to five minutes, then 1 per additional minute, with a maximum stay of 10 minutes. London City Airport said Blue Badge holders would be exempt, and the fee for black cabs would be included in the meter fare, in line with Transport for London's agreement with other major airports.

Londoners making journeys by car and train will be keeping a close eye on the weather as snow and ice threaten to cause travel disruption.

Police have asked Londoners to avoid certain areas as the force gears up for one of the busiest nights of the year. Met Police officers told New Year's Eve revellers to plan their night in advance, including checking Tube, bus and rail updates before leaving the house. The force asked people to consider attending local events rather than heading into central London, which will be awash with thousands of people ringing in the new year on Wednesday December 31.

On Monday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez got everyone excited about a new countrywide travel pass which will cost 60 per month and can be used anywhere' in the country and on all types' of means of transport. People under 26 will pay 30. But it hasn't taken long for the first cracks to appear. For starters, there's the fact that, as things stand, it can only be used on commuter trains, mid-distance trains and state buses.

The reassurance comes courtesy of a Freedom of Information request asking TfL to disclose "any reports of alien and/or extra-terrestrial activity at Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth Line and Tram locations" between January 2020 and November 2025. After checking their records, TfL replied with a refreshingly straightforward answer: they do, in fact, hold the information - but that none of it involves little green men, flying saucers, or intergalactic commuters tapping in with a futuristic multipass.

"worsened over the last few years to a point where somebody who works for me and has been around for 40 years operating buses in London says it's the worst he has ever seen"