All articles tagged with #transport policy
Spain’s second major train collision this year, which killed 69 people near Toledo, has sparked a dispute over liability. While the government blames a controller’s decision to restart a train, unions argue that understaffing and obsolete safety systems created the conditions for the disaster. A separate investigation is underway to determine the root causes.
China’s electric vehicle transition is no longer a single national trend but four distinct market cycles. Urban buses have moved from initial adoption to routine replacement, with nearly 70% of the 680,000 electric bus fleet deployed before 2020. Passenger cars now account for over half of new sales, with nearly 70% of battery-electric models priced competitively against conventional vehicles. Heavy trucks are accelerating rapidly, reaching 29% of sales in 2025, driven by high-utilization commercial routes. Conversely, intercity coaches remain at 10% electrification, largely because high-speed rail has captured the majority of long-distance passenger demand.
Henrik Hololei, director general of the European Commission’s transport department, has resigned from his post following revelations that he accepted free flights on Qatar Airways while his team negotiated a major aviation deal with the Gulf state. Hololei faced an internal investigation into the flights and whether he was right to clear himself of any conflict of interest. The episode comes at a highly sensitive time for the EU, which is already battling to save its reputation amid a corruption scandal involving allegations that Qatar and other foreign governments paid MEPs and others to do their bidding in the European Parliament.