Transport & Infrastructure News and Discussions

[firestar464]

[weatheriscool]

[wjfox]

Trump rescinds $4 billion in US funding for California High-Speed Rail project

July 17, 2025

WASHINGTON, July 16 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the Transportation Department is rescinding $4 billion in U.S. government funding for California's High-Speed Rail project.

"This project was severely overpriced, overrregulated, and never delivered," Trump said in a social media post. "The railroad we were promised still does not exist and never will."

In a separate statement from Trump's, the department said there was no viable path forward for the High-Speed Rail project and it was considering potentially clawing back additional funding related to the project, calling it "grossly over budget."

California officials called the action illegal. This is the latest in a series of clashes between Trump and California, including over transgender athletes, electric vehicle rules, the use of National Guard troops in Los Angeles and even over egg prices.

"California is putting all options on the table to fight this illegal action," California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump- ... 025-07-16/

[firestar464]

tbh this is a stopped clock moment (it was an actual shitshow)

[wjfox]

tbh this is a stopped clock moment (it was an actual shitshow)

Sounds kind of like HS2 in the UK. Endless billions going to a project that barely even progresses from the drawing board.

[weatheriscool]

tbh this is a stopped clock moment (it was an actual shitshow)

Sounds kind of like HS2 in the UK. Endless billions going to a project that barely even progresses from the drawing board.

Something to do with shitty management that can't do their jobs. Don't know how to spend the money right! What do the conservatives do? Make it worse to justify defunding and not doing anything. What a disease on our societies.

[wjfox]

tbh this is a stopped clock moment (it was an actual shitshow)

Sounds kind of like HS2 in the UK. Endless billions going to a project that barely even progresses from the drawing board.

Something to do with shitty management that can't do their jobs. Don't know how to spend the money right! What do the conservatives do? Make it worse to justify defunding and not doing anything. What a disease on our societies.

Not just poor management, but also a massive NIMBY problem in England.

[firestar464]

tbh this is a stopped clock moment (it was an actual shitshow)

Sounds kind of like HS2 in the UK. Endless billions going to a project that barely even progresses from the drawing board.

I find that Ezra explains it very well. One of the few intelligent libs out there.

[weatheriscool]

This right here is what a rising super power looks like. It invest in itself and its people support it. Us on the otherhand literally do nothing but pump our fist as we slowly die and become a joke.

[weatheriscool]

This is what a world power looks like!!! They're building shit, leading in all fields and give a damn about it. All while we vote for people that want to cut everything and make life a living hell for our people. You can't make this shit up!

If we're truly out of money then we're a failed state and we better be ready to be ruled by XI in the coming years.

[firestar464]

"Cars bad trains and buses good" urban planning is good for cities, places with high settlement density, and long-distance connection between major population centers. However, there are still many rural locations that may not be suitable for public transit solutions on the same level as those implemented in more urban areas.

This is where EVs can help fill the gap. People don't bloody realize

[weatheriscool]

[weatheriscool]

[wjfox]

Italy approves 'world's longest suspension bridge'

It is believed the €13.5bn (£11.7 bn) project, which became a priority for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing government, will help develop the impoverished south of Italy as it connects the mainland to Sicily.

Wednesday 6 August 2025 15:54, UK

Italy's government has approved the construction of what is tipped to become the world's longest suspension bridge.

The long-delayed bridge would connect mainland Italy to the island of Sicily, which is currently only reachable via ferry.

It is believed the €13.5bn (£11.7bn) project, which became a priority for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing government, will help develop the impoverished south of Italy.

The Interministerial Committee for Economic Planning and Sustainable Development (CIPESS) gave the final approval to the project at a meeting in Rome, the League party of deputy prime minister and transport minister Matteo Salvini said.

It will have a total length of 3.67km (2.3 miles) and a suspended span of 3.3km (2.05 miles) and have two towers, each made entirely of highly resistant steel, standing 399m tall.

https://news.sky.com/story/italy-approv ... e-13407756

[weatheriscool]

[weatheriscool]

[weatheriscool]

Hydrogen Trains Are Replacing Filthy Diesel Versions

Case Study: Alstom

Alstom’s Hydrogen Trains

Germany – Coradia iLint Fleet

Initially launched around 2022, the Coradia iLint began regular passenger service in Germany, primarily in Lower Saxony and the Frankfurt area, with over 1.5 million km traveled across 10 countries .

However, by late 2024, persistent technical issues (e.g., fuel cell malfunctions, parts shortages) resulted in 18 out of 27 trains being withdrawn from service starting January 2025. They’re being temporarily replaced by leased diesel units, costs covered by Alstom .

Alstom has launched a modernization program, planning to overhaul the fleet, fitting new-generation fuel cells and larger hydrogen storage, all at their own expense. This led to RMV (Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund) reverting temporarily to diesel operations through 2025 .


Italy – Coradia Stream H / Stream HMU

In Valcamonica, northern Italy, starting next year (2026), 14 hydrogen-powered Coradia Stream trains—each with four cars—will replace diesel on a mountainous 110 km line. The project is backed by €367 million (EU + regional funding) and features on-site green hydrogen production via electrolysis .

The Coradia Stream H (HMU), derived from the iLint technology, is undergoing testing at Rovato. It boasts a range of ~660 km and seating capacity around 260, and its refueling and operational trials are underway after static and dynamic testing in Germany .

Delivery delays were reported: commercial service, once expected by 2023, is now slated to begin around 2025–2026 in the context of the H2iseO project .


North America – Canada Demonstration

In Quebec (Charlevoix region), Coradia iLint ran a demonstration service in summer 2023, carrying over 10,000 passengers and earning recognition on Fast Company’s 2024 World Changing Ideas list .


Hydrogen Freight & Fuel Cell R&D

Nestlé Waters France is set to operate Europe’s first hydrogen fuel cell–powered freight solution from 2025, using a generator wagon system developed by Alstom in partnership with ENGIE. This setup promises ~10,000 tons CO₂ emissions avoided annually .

HELION Hydrogen Power, a hydrogen subsidiary of Alstom, signed a strategic partnership (January 2025) to demonstrate a 100 kW fuel cell system compatible with hydrogen produced from methanol—which could expand hydrogen propulsion across diverse transport use cases.

[weatheriscool]

Structure-saving hook-and-loop tech could make it easy to replace walls
By Ben Coxworth
August 25, 2025
https://newatlas.com/good-thinking/hook ... placement/

Why tear down an entire building, if only its flimsy interior components need to be replaced? That's the thinking behind a new Velcro-like fastening system which allows interior walls to simply be yanked out by hand and swapped for new ones when necessary.

The technology is being developed by a team at Austria's Graz University of Technology (along with industry partners), as part of the ReCon sustainable construction project.

In a nutshell, the idea is that when a non-load-bearing interior element such as a wall, flooring panel or other item reaches the end of its lifespan, it simply gets pulled out and replaced with a fresh one. The building's main supporting structure, which is still good to go for a while, remains intact and undamaged.

[wjfox]

Watch: World's tallest bridge completes key load-bearing test

5 hours ago

The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in China has undergone a five-day testing process ahead of the scheduled opening in late September.

The load test is the final step before it is considered safe to welcome traffic. A testing team drove 96 trucks onto designated points to test the bridge's structural integrity.

Rising 625m (2,083ft) above a river in Guizhou province, the bridge will upon completion set the record for both the world's tallest bridge and largest span bridge built in a mountainous area.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c5y3rrvl3r2o

[firestar464]

https://bsky.app/profile/clarissakickas ... edpvapw223
https://bsky.app/profile/clarissakickas ... equ2jtls2p

I don’t need a self driving car. I need a vehicle that runs between major areas and can transport large numbers of people at once to reduce environmental impact…wait it’s a train. I’m describing trains.
Build more goddamned TRAINS, America...More trains =/= eradicate cars, guys. Come on. We need cars to exist too, but not in this quantity because of lack of mass transit options.