Opinions Archive

Opinions

December 30, 2019 | Kevin Smith

Climate emergency must stimulate faster delivery of innovation in 2020s

ARE railways entering their third major transformation? Following electrification and the introduction of high-speed, the climate emergency is promising to intensify the so-called railway renaissance during the 2020s, establishing rail as the backbone of mobility in a green and clean society.

December 23, 2019 | David Briginshaw

IRJ’s 12-point plan for a zero-carbon railway

The IRJ editorial team has put on its thinking cap to produce a 12-point plan to help rail become carbon free and take on a greater share of the transport burden. David Briginshaw outlines how rail can up its game in the battle against climate change.

December 2, 2019 | Kevin Smith

Rail has a good story - now go and tell it

IN a presentation at Bentley’s Year in Infrastructure (YII) conference in Singapore on October 24, Virgin Hyperloop One Middle East and India managing director, Mr Harj Dhaliwal, proudly declared that engineers had left jobs at Nasa, Google and Waymo to join the start-up. “We have some of the most talented engineers in the world working for us today,” he said.

November 28, 2019 | Roderick Smith

How to rescue Britain’s HS2 project

I have become increasingly concerned about the sub-optimal ways in which Britain’s HS2 project has evolved whilst simultaneously the costs have escalated, and timelines have been extended.

November 1, 2019 | David Briginshaw

Rail seeks to maintain environmental lead

WHILE Extinction Rebellion activists demonstrated in cities around the world last month in an attempt to raise public awareness about climate change and encourage politicians to avert the climate emergency which threatens to engulf the world, a more low-key but year-long railway campaign to highlight rail as the most climate-friendly way to transport freight was drawing to a close.

October 1, 2019 | Keith Barrow

Looking back on 13 years of change

AFTER 13 years, 164 issues and reporting from 28 countries, this is my final edition of International Railway Journal. But before I head off for pastures new, editor-in-chief David Briginshaw has asked me to reflect on some of the changes I’ve witnessed in the industry.

Alongside news of a big new signing for [...]

September 2, 2019 | David Briginshaw