Transport

HS2: Should it be derailed?

What’s Going On Here? Boris Johnson has called a meeting this week to decide whether the ongoing and controversial ‘HS2’ high speed rail project connecting London to Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds should go ahead or be scrapped. There is some serious opposition, but what’s it all about? What Does This Mean? The first phase was on track (sorry…) to operate by 2026…

Could sleeper trains be the new short-haul flight?

What’s Going On Here? Night trains are returning to the tracks across Europe following pressure from the Swedish flygskam movement and Flight Free 2020! What Does This Mean? Between 2009 and 2018 the European night train network shrank due to competition from budget airlines. However, over the last few months we’ve got wind of a revival with both new routes and restoration of previous networks. ÖBB, Europe’s largest…

Could You Stay on the Ground in 2020?

What’s Going On Here? The Swedish organisation ‘We Stay on the Ground‘ have launched a ‘Flight Free 2020’ campaign urging people all around the world to commit to giving up flying for an entire year to reduce their carbon footprint and help raise awareness of the climate crisis. What Does This Mean? Back in June we wrote about ‘flygskam’ – the Swedish word meaning…

Flygskam: It’s a Flying Shame for Sweden and France

What’s Going On Here? No this isn’t a typo, the Swedes who have a word for everything, have coined a new one…‘Flygskam’. It means ‘flight shame’ and its intentions to discourage air travel seem to be working. How Do You Pronounce Flygskam? Pronounced ‘Fleeg-skaam’ the word has become popular in raising awareness of the large carbon footprint that air travel has, compared…

Oslo sets global electric vehicle record

What’s Going On Here? Europe’s environmental capital continues to lead the way on environmental issues as electric vehicles (EVs) sales in the Norwegian capital between 1-17 March reached 76.6% of total car sales, the highest recorded electric car share to date. This milestone comes as 750 delegates from across the globe convene in the city for the electric vehicle conference Nordic EV Summit…

Tesla of the skies: Easyjet Working on Cheap Electric Flights!

What’s Going On Here? Aviation giant Easyjet, have announced that they are partnering with European startup Wright Electric, aiming to create cheap electric flights by 2027. What Does This Mean? The year-old startup, Wright Electric, who have recently been funded by world-class technology incubator Y Combinator, is partnering alongside Easyjet with the dream to create the world’s first fully electric passenger aircraft. “Easyjet has had discussions…