Know What's Happening in Transportation
Know What's Happening in Transportation
Brightline West earmarks $21B for LA‑Las Vegas high‑speed rail
Brightline West is allocating roughly $21 billion to construct a high‑speed rail line linking Los Angeles and Las Vegas, targeting completion before the 2028 Olympics. The two‑hour train will compete directly with the three‑hour door‑to‑door flight that carries about two million passengers each year, offering comparable or lower fares.
Also developing:
By the numbers: AIP Management acquires additional stake in Cross London Trains
U.S. truck‑components maker TCCI is navigating a fragmented tariff regime after the Supreme Court struck down some Trump‑era duties, but Section 232 tariffs on heavy‑duty parts remain. The company invested $45 million in a Clean Energy Innovation Hub to produce electric compressors and train workers, while shifting its U.S. focus to hybrid trucks and directing EV compressors to European customers. Tariff rebates have unexpectedly made overseas production more appealing, prompting a strategic realignment of its manufacturing footprint.
Drewry’s World Container Index jumped 5% to $2,279 per 40‑foot container, marking a fourth consecutive weekly rise. Asia‑Europe lanes led the surge, with Shanghai‑Genoa rates climbing 12% to $3,474, while Transpacific routes also posted gains. Only three blank sailings are...
Diesel prices in New Zealand have surged 80% since February, reaching $3.24‑$3.45 NZD per litre (about $1.94‑$2.07 USD), overtaking 91 petrol for the first time. Petrol has risen only 35% in the same period. Trucking firms are absorbing extra costs—up to $150 NZD (~$90 USD) daily...
In this episode, Ian Massey of SRM explains how the ongoing war with Iran is destabilizing global supply chains, especially in energy, shipping, logistics, and related downstream industries. He outlines three possible conflict scenarios—escalation, protracted low‑intensity fighting, and de‑escalation—and advises...
Dutch beam‑trawler operators are grounding roughly half their fleet as diesel prices double following the Iran‑Russia conflict. Weekly fuel bills have surged from about $14,000‑$15,000 to roughly $34,500 per vessel, eroding profit margins for high‑value flatfish catches. The situation mirrors...
The major truckstops already do this arb. They will move their diesel purchases between PADs to take advantage of price deltas at the rack. But a good portion of the diesel cost delta is actually tax and transportation related. The...
Autonomous vehicles excel in repeatable, data‑rich environments but still lag behind human drivers when faced with unpredictable edge cases such as stray objects or unmarked detours. Human intuition leverages analogy and cultural cues, allowing rapid adaptation to informal traffic negotiations...
Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains virtually halted four weeks into the Iran‑Israel conflict, with only six vessels recorded on March 26 versus the pre‑war average of nearly 60 daily transits in 2025. Iran announced a toll system demanding...
Lyft has launched a 60‑day gas‑relief program for its drivers, running from March 27 to May 26. The initiative provides cash‑back on Lyft Direct debit card purchases (1% for Gold/Platinum, 2% for Elite) plus an additional 14 cents per gallon through Upside and...
SEPTA will launch a $55 million rehabilitation of the historic Bridgeport Viaduct on the M Line starting March 29, replacing train service with shuttle buses through May 9. The 3,525‑foot, 1911‑era bridge will undergo structural steel repairs, bearing replacements, deck and abutment work,...
Over the past 24 hours, I’ve talked to a number of leading shipping and energy sources in Europe and Asia. Overall mood: panic. Talked to dozens of key people in the USA. Overall mood: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Allied navies might have to reopen the strait...
@SecDuffy is a rockstar among truckers who feel that he is the first DOT Secretary that has their back...
Barcelona startup CHA has introduced a 3D‑printed nylon bracket that dispenses compressed graphite powder onto a bicycle chain when the rider back‑pedals. The device uses replaceable capsules that claim to lubricate up to 180 km (112 miles) of riding without attracting dirt,...
James Feess’s guide breaks down European rail travel, highlighting city‑center stations, electronic tickets and the convenience of boarding without airport queues. It explains how variable‑price high‑speed tickets can drop from €135 (≈$149) to €54 (≈$59) when booked 6‑8 weeks ahead, and...
If you study the rise and fall of empires the two most important things are ships and salt. Now the UK barely has either.
San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) secured $48.3 million from California’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIRCP) program for Phase 2 of the Orange Line Improvement Project, bringing total allocated funds to roughly $60.4 million. The Phase 2 upgrades, covering the eastern 18‑mile corridor...
China has detained close to 70 Panama-flagged ships at its ports since March 8, a move U.S. officials say is retaliation over Panama Canal terminal leases. The detentions, largely of older bulk carriers, come as Panama sues for over $2 billion...
The Balearic Islands government approved a second metro line (M2) in Palma de Mallorca, a 6‑km route from Plaça d’Espanya to Secar de la Real with four new stations. The project costs about €230 million (≈$250 million), rising to €300 million (≈$327 million) including...
Uber, Chinese autonomous‑driving company Pony.ai and Croatian robotaxi startup Verne announced a joint pilot in Zagreb, Croatia, using Pony.ai’s Gen‑7 system and Arcfox Alpha T5 vehicles. The partnership targets a fleet of thousands of driverless taxis across Europe within the next...
Pacific Islander residents of the U.S. under the COFA treaties are hitting legal roadblocks as the 2025 REAL ID mandate limits their ability to travel and work. Advocacy groups warn the lack of passports and enhanced driver’s licenses could cripple...
European rail leaders at RailTech Europe 2026 warned that the cost of retrofitting trains for the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) has doubled in four years, threatening wider adoption. The European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) and industry players...
New York’s LaGuardia Airport reopened its main runway on March 27 after a three‑day shutdown following a deadly runway incursion that killed two Air Canada pilots and injured dozens. Investigators say a combination of staffing shortages, a fire‑truck clearance and...
Sharing some charts from the Port of LA's Port Optimizer Signal platform. Volumes into the port are rising in the two weeks ahead (notably that week 14 number literally rose 3% from 9 am ET this morning to when I...
Gerry Conover, a former Ford product‑planning executive and 45‑year veteran journalist, appears on TTAC’s "Tales From the Beat" episode 135. He shares insights from his newsletter Cars Smart News, covering oil market volatility, the $50,000 average new‑car price, and the practical limits...
Ferrari announced that shipments of its supercars to the Middle East have resumed after a brief pause caused by the escalating conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran. The automaker resolved temporary logistical challenges by re‑routing sea freight and...
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles introduced the Chrysler Delta in the UK in 2011, rebadging the Lancia Delta built on a Fiat Bravo platform. The company aimed to sell 2,500 units but withdrew the model after three years with just over 900...
U.S. fleets are accelerating electrification, but grid interconnection and capacity constraints are emerging as the primary bottleneck. Utilities such as SoCal Edison ($436 million for 30,000 ports) and DTE Electric (19,300 chargers) are offering incentive programs, yet distribution upgrades and interconnection...
No Problem- I’ve been traveling internationally in and out of Newark for close to 20 years - I’ve never seen a TSA line this SMALL. https://t.co/KO41B7uvrz
BNSF announced that customers invested over $5.3 billion in rail‑served projects during 2025, completing 117 initiatives—the highest count in six years. The projects generated more than 1,200 jobs across industrial, agricultural and consumer sectors, boosting production capacity and supply‑chain resilience. Notable...
You heard the man, @SecDuffy tells you all to keep tagging him here Back when I interviewed him in June of last year, he told us one of the biggest reasons he came by was because of “all those loud trucker...
Russia's oil export revenues have resumed growth after four years of decline, buoyed by higher energy prices and a temporary U.S. sanctions easing. However, the country's ability to capitalize on this rebound is constrained by aging western pipelines and ports...
Tennessee lawmakers advanced an amended Senate Bill 2473 that would dissolve existing regional and metropolitan airport authority boards and replace them with new panels appointed primarily by state officials. The proposal creates nine‑member boards for metropolitan airports, with appointments split...
U.S. travelers are facing severe TSA security delays at major hubs such as Atlanta, Houston, Chicago, Dallas, Orlando and Los Angeles, with staffing shortages forcing 4‑5 hour wait times. Simultaneously, airport strikes in Spain, single‑runway operations at LaGuardia, and extreme weather—including...
Space Force is evaluating a significant increase in launch cadence at NASA’s Wallops Island range to satisfy rising commercial demand, Gen. Stephen Whiting told the Senate Armed Services Committee. Wallops, long used for niche missions such as small‑satellite and hypersonic...
We've created a new map, which tracks the estimated cost per mile for buying diesel, depending on where you purchase fuel. https://t.co/JKDNneabWc
Toyota’s Chinese joint ventures are recalling more than 560,000 SUVs after regulators identified a faulty second‑row seat‑back adjuster spring that may not lock during a crash. The recall covers 317,990 Highlander models and 242,170 Crown Kluger SUVs built between July 2021 and...
Sound Transit’s board approved a progressive design‑build contract with Hoffman Construction to build a new Operations and Maintenance Facility South in Federal Way. The $350 million agreement covers final design, site work, roadway upgrades and construction staging on a 70‑acre site,...
The U.S. Navy issued its final request for proposals on March 26 for a next‑generation Undergraduate Jet Training System to replace the aging T‑45 Goshawk fleet. The service set an aggressive acquisition timeline and a firm cost target while dropping the...
Transportation leaders and rating agencies are watching the pending surface‑transportation reauthorization that will replace the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). A study by IHS Markit shows roughly 40% of IIJA spending will occur after the September 30 deadline, extending the construction...
$TSLA deliveries out next Thursday. The key metric is Model Y/3, which I believe will be flat y/y (324k). The Street is looking for 351k, up 8%. It's the first read on true demand after last September’s EV tax credit...
UNVERIFIED CLICK BAIT @JimFergusonUK If this happened, it would be announced by shipping trackers, insurers, naval statements, & major wire services NOT by a social media predator
Ram announced three America250‑themed 2026 Ram 1500 models—Big Horn, Laramie and Rebel—to commemorate the United States’ 250th birthday on July 4, 2026. Each truck features a flag‑adorned sport‑performance hood, blacked‑out exterior accents and commemorative emblems, while interiors showcase denim‑blue or leather seats with red‑white‑blue...
Reederei Bernd Sibum has taken delivery of the second of four Damen CF 3850 Combi Freighters, built at Damen’s Yichang shipyard and designed for ultra‑efficient operation. The vessels can run on 100% biofuel and are being equipped with hybrid PTO/PTI...
World Star Aviation has delivered a leased Boeing 737‑400SF to UAE‑based cargo carrier Sky One, marking the third such aircraft in their partnership. The converted freighter offers a 20‑ton payload and a 3,700 km range, suited for short‑ and medium‑haul routes. Sky...
Hong Kong lawmakers have criticised the lack of a public car park at the newly upgraded Huanggang border crossing, which sits on the Shenzhen side of the border. Transport officials say a parking site may be located near the San Tin...
![Slush Pits and Snowball Fights: Slate’s Upcoming Pickup Endures Winter Testing [Video]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/03/Slate-winter-testing-slush.jpg?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Slate Auto, the young American EV startup, released a video showing its Bare Slate pickup prototypes undergoing extreme winter testing in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The tests included a slush pit, sub‑zero cold chambers, and even a snowball fight, with engineers...
Volvo’s 2027 EX90 electric SUV will carry over the 2025 model’s design and powertrain lineup, with pricing ranging from $79,000 for the base single‑motor to $91,000 for the top‑trim Ultra. The 2026 update introduced an 800‑volt charging system that can...
Tata Motors, BMW, Audi and other automakers will raise vehicle prices in India next month as material and logistics costs surge amid Middle‑East tensions and a weakening rupee. Tata plans up to a 1.5% hike for commercial vehicles and a...
Waymos are encountering the tyranny of the bottom quintile. This morning’s Waymo smells like someone puked in it and the depot did their best to cover it up. I imagine there are already internal teams spinning up projects to address. I would...
The Thai‑flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree, a 30,000‑dwt vessel owned by Precious Shipping, was struck by two projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz on March 11, igniting an engine‑room fire and forcing abandonment. Twenty crew members were rescued by Oman’s navy,...
