Tag: Transport

First direct London-China train completes 12,000 km run

by Joanna CHIU Agence France Presse BEIJING, China (AFP) — Laden with whisky and baby milk, the first freight train linking China directly to the UK arrived in the eastern Chinese city of Yiwu Saturday after a 12,000-kilometre (7,500-mile) trip, becoming the world’s second-longest rail route. The journey is the latest effort in China’s drive to strengthen trade links with western Europe along a modern-day “Silk Road” route. “The train arrived at around 9:30am (0130 […]

Polluted London sets its sights on cars

by Ouerdya AIT ABDELMALEK Agence France Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Gone are the days of London’s “pea souper” smogs, but like many European cities, the British capital is once again being choked by pollution — and has road traffic firmly in its sights. In 1952, the Great Smog suffocated London for five days, bringing the city to a standstill as soot-filled clouds descended onto the streets and into people’s lungs, leaving more than […]

Transport strikes - a history

Transport strikes – a history

QUEZON City, Philippines (February 20) – Jeepneys or Jeeps were originally used by American soldiers during the World War II as a military vehicle. As the war ended, Americans left it in the country and enterprising Filipinos modified it – allowing the lowly jeep to become the king of the road. The crowded seating was soon overshadowed by how it was artistically adorned – soon the jeep became an iconic representation of Filipino pop culture. Not […]

Indonesia bans ships from sailing to Philippines after kidnapping

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Jakarta banned Friday any Indonesian-flagged vessels from sailing to the Philippines, the transport ministry said, after yet another violent kidnapping in the strife-torn waters between the two nations. The ruling was issued after the government confirmed seven Indonesian sailors were kidnapped at gunpoint earlier this week, and were being held hostage by an unknown group. It’s the third time this year Indonesian sailors have been abducted in the Sulu sea, a […]

Volkswagen, Toyota buy into ridesharing

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) 5/24/2016 -Toyota and Volkswagen announced separate partnerships Tuesday with rideshare companies Uber and Gett, in the latest such moves by major carmakers. Japan’s Toyota and ridesharing titan Uber said they had entered into a memorandum of understanding to explore collaboration, starting with trials in countries where ridesharing is expanding. “Through this collaboration with Uber, we would like to explore new ways of delivering secure, convenient and attractive mobility services to […]