First POLIS Brussels Bubble Band 2026 POLIS members met for the Brussels Bubble Band to discuss urban mobility policy, including the automotive package, CCAM, and plenty more.

In case you missed it: last week we hosted the first #BrusselsBubbleBand of 2026 🎉

Cities & regions exchanged views on key EU mobility developments—from #TransportInfrastructure and #UrbanNodes to cross-border connectivity, EGUM, CCAM, and the next EU MFF (2028–2034).

Read more 👉 shorturl.at/NFjDq

Last week we held DARe's 3rd Funder & ALB Workshop, with EPSRC, DfT, Network Rail, National Highways, and HS2. Great questions, thoughtful challenges, and lots of discussion on how to ensure DARe’s work is useable and accessible.

#transportinfrastructure #transportresilience

A residential street lined with parked cars and red‑brick houses covered in snow, with slushy tire tracks running down the centre of the road.

In this guest blog piece, DARe Project Partners, @urbanforesight.bsky.social, explore how Christmas travel patterns and demand remind us that successful electrification demands forward planning and systems-level thinking.

#ElectricVehicles #TransportInfrastructure

View across the room of DARe team members sat around a horseshoe table layout, while one person presents at the front of the room

DARe team members discuss and work together around a table and display board

DARe team members smile as they work together around a table

Great two days at @newcastleuni.bsky.social for a #DAReHubNational full team meeting.
Insightful discussions, research reviews, and progress on case studies and outputs.
Thanks to all who contributed!💡

#TransportInfrastructure #Decarbonisation #Adaptation #ClimateResilience #ResearchCollaboration

Last DARe #webinar of 2025⬇️

How can we strengthen and adapt UK #TransportInfrastructure to enable rapid, coordinated responses from emergency services, #highway authorities, and local partners during #ExtremeWeather disruptions?

5 Dec, 12-1pm GMT

bit.ly/DARe-webinar9

📣 Mapping Europe’s Material Backbone: circeular.org/mapping-euro...
👉 A new #CircEUlar report reveals the composition and location of Europe’s massive #MaterialStock in #buildings, #TransportInfrastructure and vehicles across the EU27, Norway, Switzerland, and the UK.

Congratulations to #DAReNationalHub Co-Director, Prof Jennifer Schooling, who has been elected a Fellow of the @raeng.org.uk.

#RAEngFellows #TransportResearch #TransportInfrastructure

Can we use US pavement #data to improve UK #roads? 

Dr Sripriya Rengaraju explores how soil, #climate, and design affect #pavement performance, and how lessons from the US can help shape sustainable #TransportInfrastructure in the UK.  

📺 youtu.be/zeUakJmYliQ?si=XCc05DYXK7PCIxsw

Trans-Kalahari Railway too big to fail – Salakae Chamwe Kaira  Botswana’s minister of transport and infrastructure and co-chair of the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) of the Trans-Kalahari Railway (TKR) project, Noah Salakae, says the railway is too important to fail. He made the remarks during the recent Joint Ministerial Committee meeting in Maun.  “If the feasibility numbers do not immediately convince financiers, we must not fold our arms. We must innovate, adapt, and build the partnerships that will make it happen,” said Salakae. The governments of Namibia and Botswana signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2010 to develop the Trans-Kalahari Railway.  In 2014, they signed a bilateral agreement for the construction of the 1 500 km line, including coal storage, loading, and other facilities to support economic activities along the route and at its terminals. Salakae urged technocrats to explore innovative financing options, blending public, private, and development capital, to make the project viable once the detailed feasibility study is completed.  He described rail infrastructure as the backbone of integrated markets, adding that access to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could generate jobs and skills to support economic diversification, poverty reduction, and inclusive growth. Namibia’s minister of works and transport and co-chair of the JMC, Veikko Nekundi, said the project is more than just a railway, calling it a strategic tool to unlock regional trade, create jobs, and stimulate investment across Namibia, Botswana, and beyond. He welcomed the progress of the feasibility study and called for commitment to its delivery.  “As we will be approaching the next phase of securing private sector investment, finalising financial models and ensuring regulatory and operational readiness, let us remain committed to delivering this project through a transparent public-private partnership that brings value to our nations,” said Nekundi. The two governments continue to meet bilaterally to address risks and obstacles that could delay the project. The Trans-Kalahari Railway will link Walvis Bay in Namibia with Gaborone in Botswana. It is designed to support regional trade and growth by providing a cost-effective route for goods, with a focus on transporting coal from Botswana’s Mmamabula coalfields to Walvis Bay.  The plan is to export around 90 million tonnes of coal annually to India and China. Caption Minister of works and transport, Veikko Nekundi. * Photo: Contributed 

#TransKalahariRailway #TransportInfrastructure #RailwayDevelopment #EconomicGrowth #Innovation

Kyrgyzstan Advances Regional Logistics Through New Railways and Air Transport Development Kyrgyzstan outlines ambitious transport plans to become a regional logistical hub.

As landlocked nations gather in Turkmenistan, a bold new vision emerges to transform their geographic challenges into gateways of opportunity on the global stage.

Learn more here

#US #CitizenPortal #TransportInfrastructure #InternationalCooperation #TurkmenistanLLDCs

🚆 Africa’s railway network mapped (~89,000 km)

Many railways still follow colonial extraction routes

🇿🇲 Zambia: Copperbelt hub

🇲🇼 Malawi: landlocked, rail via Mozambique

Built in #R
#Africa #Railways #TransportInfrastructure #GIS #DataViz #ColonialLegacy #Cartography #OpenData #RStats

Govt risks losing N$110 million in AfDB loan Justicia Shipena  Namibia has yet to fully use a N$2 billion loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for massive transport infrastructure.  With only six months left before the loan disbursement deadline on 31 December 2025, more than N$110 million remains undisbursed. The latest Implementation Progress and Results Report from the AfDB shows that Namibia has used just over 94% of the approved loan amount as of April 2025.  This implies that the government can only access the remaining funds prior to the loan’s expiration.  The government must fast-track activities to avoid losing the remaining money. The remaining work needs quick action to ensure full use of the loan before it closes at the end of this year. The first disbursement of the funds was made in June 2018.  The project is jointly financed by the AfDB and the Namibian government, with a total cost of N$5.55 billion.  Namibia is contributing over N$3.5 billion.  The government is the principal borrower, while the ministry of works and transport acts as the executing agency. The loan was approved in 2017 to support the Namibia Transport Infrastructure Improvement Project.  The project aims to improve key road and rail links to help Namibia become a regional logistics hub under Vision 2030. In March of this year, the works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi cancelled TransNamib’s plan to buy 23 new locomotives for N$1.7 billion.  He cited risks related to relying on a single foreign supplier. Progress on rail upgrades has been praised.  The report revealed that the 210 km stretch between Walvis Bay and Kranzberg is complete, and train speeds on the upgraded rail line have reached the 80 km/h target.  The project has also trained over 350 young people and women in road and rail infrastructure maintenance, exceeding the target.  Of those trained, 36.5% were women. HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns and feasibility studies for future rail corridors were also completed. However, road upgrades have faced delays.  The dual carriageway between Windhoek and Hosea Kutako International Airport is 87% complete.  Construction of traffic interchanges is at 75%, and currently, 17 km of the targeted 19.5 km freeway has been completed. In 2023, reports confirmed delays in the construction of the Windhoek to Hosea Kutako International Airport freeway.  At the time, the full road was expected to open by either November 2024 or January 2025. The project was rolled out in multiple phases.  Phase 1, covering 10 kilometres, was fully funded by the Namibian government. Phase 2A began in 2019, followed by Phase 2B in May 2021. Phase 2A, which stretches 19.5 kilometres from Auasblick to the Dordabis interchange and is funded by the African Development Bank, had reached 78% completion by 2023. The AfDB report pointed out risks from delays in procurement and outstanding financial audits.  The financial audit report due in September 2024 has not yet been submitted.  According to the AfDB, the main contractor on the freeway faces cash flow problems.  The African bank warned that this could delay smaller linked contracts and slow overall progress.  Despite this, corrective measures are underway.  The road works on the Windhoek-HKIA freeway are now expected to finish in September 2025. The AfDB noted that the development objectives are still likely to be met.  However, final results depend on the pace of work in the coming months. 

#Namibia #AfDB #Infrastructure #DevelopmentLoan #TransportInfrastructure

Trans Kalahari Railway makes progress Chamwe Kaira CPCS Transcom UK Limited has submitted the Inception Report of the Feasibility Study on the Trans Kalahari Railway for review.  The report will be discussed at the August meeting of the joint ministerial committee between Namibia and Botswana. The consultant began work on the 12-month study in April. CPCS Transcom is working with Zutari, which operates in Botswana and Namibia, as well as Bowman, a Namibian company, and other independent experts. Botswana has proposed expanding the scope of the study to include a broader vision of the railway as the Trans-Kalahari Development Corridor. Botswana’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Noah Salakae, said the project should consider a public-private partnership model.  “An approach we must continue to encourage,” he said. He added that the railway alone cannot generate enough revenue to justify its US$16 billion cost.  “Trans-Kalahari Railway as a standalone railway simply cannot generate enough revenue from transport economics alone to justify its staggering US$16 billion cost.” He said the vision must be broader. “The TKDC envisions much more than rails. It is a spine for economic transformation, encompassing logistics hubs, industrial clusters, energy infrastructure, trade zones, housing, tourism nodes, and green towns that bring opportunity and prosperity to people along its path.” Salakae said the two countries need a modern rail system that connects people and brings development.  “Botswana and Namibia need a smart rail transportation system that will pull its people from isolation, bring them close to one another, and give them work, as well as turn their quiet villages, towns and cities into thriving commercial centres and tourist destinations.” He stressed the project must support regional integration and long-term growth.  “A project of this scale and importance must go beyond rail, it must stimulate regional integration, urbanisation, and sustainable growth from coast to coast.” Botswana is also developing an infrastructure investment plan to support this goal.  “We are in the process of developing a Botswana Infrastructure Investment Plan aimed at upgrading and expanding our infrastructure ecosystem to unlock broader economic opportunities. Our objective is to transform and modernise infrastructure to ensure the efficient movement of goods and people, thereby enhancing service delivery. Sustainability remains central to our planning processes, considering both current and future challenges,” he said. The Trans-Kalahari Railway will link Walvis Bay in Namibia with Gaborone in Botswana. It is expected to support regional trade and economic growth by offering a cost-effective route for goods.  The line is mainly intended to transport coal from the Mmamabula coal fields to Walvis Bay. The plan is to export around 90 million tonnes of coal each year from Botswana to India and China.

#TransKalahariRailway #FeasibilityStudy #PublicPrivatePartnership #TransportInfrastructure #Namibia

As cities grow, shrink, and re-organize, with access provided by #TransportInfrastructure, this book demonstrates the value of critical realism to create lasting, positive impacts on #Society and the #Environment.

GRN plans upgrades to roads, rail, and aviation  Chamwe Kaira  Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi, stated that his ministry aims to ensure the 2025/2026 budget delivers a modern and reliable transport infrastructure within its N$2.7 billion. The transportation development programme will include the construction of feeder and access roads, upgrading gravel roads to bitumen standard, road rehabilitation, and the development and maintenance of state-owned aerodromes. Nekundi highlighted the completion of several major projects, including the rehabilitation of 58km of the Windhoek-Okahandja road, transforming it into a dual carriageway from Brakwater to the intersection of Okahandja-Karibib and Okahandja-Otjiwarongo roads.  He also mentioned the completion of Phase 1 of the Walvis Bay-Swakopmund road, which includes a 12km extension of MR44, MR36, and TR2/1. The ministry continues to focus on building districts and access roads to connect rural communities with economic and social hubs.  It is also responsible for constructing and rehabilitating state-owned aerodromes. The ministry has requested N$825 million for transportation infrastructure development. In addition, N$990 million has been requested for the provision and upgrading of the railway network to create a safer, more efficient system that supports socio-economic development. Nekundi also announced a request for N$45 million to be allocated to transport policy formulation, law enforcement, regulation oversight, and support for the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), the Trans Kalahari Corridor Secretariat (TKCS), and the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG). Regarding aviation, Nekundi reported that Namibia successfully passed the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) with a score of 79.1%, exceeding the ICAO and NDP 5 target of 75%.  He added that Namibia will soon take over air traffic services in the Namibian oceanic airspace and the airspace south of 27°30’00″S from South Africa.

#TransportInfrastructure #RoadUpgrades #RailDevelopment #AviationImprovements #Namibia

Blackpool to invest £4m in better bus services: new lanes, deep-cleaned shelters, & more RTI screens. A win for passengers & SME operators alike.
🔗 Read More: bbc.in/433nyts
#BusImprovement #PublicTransport #BlackpoolTransport #ALBUMBus #TransportInfrastructure #UKBuses

Australia spends $714 per person on roads every year – but just 90 cents goes to walking, wheeling and cycling Walking and cycling get 90c per person each year from the Australian government. What if that figure rose to $5, $10 or $15?

“Globally, the United Nations recommends nations spend 20% of their transport budgets on walking and cycling infrastructure.” #AusPol #transport #TransportInfrastructure
Australia spends 1/714th. And I’m being generous.