Tuesday, 16 December 2008 23:11

Congratulations to Neale Kinnear

Tuesday, 16 December 2008 16:27

First medium speed catamaran arrived in UK

On the 9th of December the mv Pentalina, operated by Pentland Ferries arrived in Orkney after her 10,000 mile journey from the FBMA shipyard in Cebu. The new ferry, designed by Stuart Ballantyne of Sea Transport Solutions in Brisbane, will shortly enter service on the Gill's Bay-St. Margaret's Hope route. The ship is the first medium-speed passenger/vehicle catamaran of its type in the UK, although Sea Transport has already designed similar vessels for some 43 countries. The mv Pentalina will carry 350 passengers and 88 cars (or over 30 cars plus 8 heavy goods vehicles/coaches) at a speed of 18 knots. The ship will reduce the journey time between mainland Scotland and Orkney to about 45 minutes. Up to four roundtrips daily are scheduled for the peak summer period, with three round trips/day at other times. Pentland Ferries (www.pentlandferries.co.uk) operate a non-subsidised service.

Edinburgh Napier University Transport Research Institute are working with industry and public bodies to see if there is further potential for the medium-speed catamaran vessel type to be employed on other routes in Scotland and elsewhere. The superior design of the medium-speed catamaran means it is capable of reducing emissions by over 50% compared to similar capacity conventional ferries. And as the vessel is medium-speed rather than high-speed, its proven seakeeping and reliability in heavy weather conditions is as good if not better than conventional ferry alternatives.

 

Alf Baird captured pictures from the ship's first days in Orkney:

 

 

Thursday, 11 December 2008 21:46

Latin American Modal Split in International Transport – Year 2006

UNECLAC's Infrastructure and Transport Area and TRI have published the electronic document : Latin American Modal Split in International Transport – Year 2006. The document contains information on international transport flows to and from ten Latin American Countries for the year 2006 and is the continuation of the previously published Trade and Transport profiles, year 2000 (LC/L. 1711-P). The profile for each country modal split and volumes and value of trade as well as expenditure on freight and insurance in international transport are presented. 

The document was prepared by  Ricardo J. Sánchez and Gabriel Pérez S., experts of the Infrastructure and Transport Area of Natural Resources and Infrastructure Division of UNECLAC, Gordon Wilmsmeier , Senior Research Fellow of TRI and Marc Hesse, UNECLAC Consultant.

Monday, 08 December 2008 08:11

TRI Taxi Group project commended by CfIT

The TRI Taxi Studies Group work providing transport to rural communities has been featured as an example of best practice by the Commission for Integrated Transport

 

Transport to Employment (T2E)

The Transport Research Institute Taxi Studies Group work focusing on the provision of transport in rural communities, a project leading to the spin out service Transport to Employment (T2E) has featured as one of the case studies within the Commission for Integrated Transport report "a New Approach to Rural Public Transport". The Commission identifies shared taxis as a significant contributor and potential answer to rural accessibility.

The T2E project, which originates with research undertaken by the Taxi Studies Group, operated as a pilot over a three year period in association with the Transport Research Institute and Transport to Employment Ltd. The work provided a significant boost to the local communities it served in the Highlands of Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway and Northern Ireland, and resulted in over 300 individuals being able to gain access to employment that would not, in any other circumstance, have been accessible. 

Evaluation of the scheme, undertaken on behalf of Transport to Employment Ltd., by the University of Newcastle highlighted the significant social benefit of the scheme, identifying a particularly high level of Social Return on Investment. The service has proven significant and has now moved to full scale operation by the Highland council.

Links to the scheme, CfIT report and evaluation are available via the Taxi Studies Group website.

Contact:

Dr. James Cooper

Tel 0131 208 1055

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Monday, 01 December 2008 16:28

TRI Conference: June 2009

TRI is delighted to announce its forthcoming conference

TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE, Building a Greener Scotland

The Government has set ambitious targets for a greener country in which transport has a critical role to play. This conference will examine the implications of climate change for transport, including emerging technologies, procurement and behavioural change.
 
This critical event will include keynote addresses from leading experts, a series of facilitated workshops, a panel discussion and an exhibition.
 
In addition, the conference will launch the Scottish Government's planned consultation on the use of cleaner vehicles and alternative fuels to reduce emissions from road transport.
 
Key Speakers include:

Stewart Stevenson MSP	Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change
Dr. Chris Spray	Director of Environmental Science, Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Stuart Deed	Head of Business Partnering, Scottish and Southern Energy plc
Dr. David Quarmby	Chairman, Independent Transport Commission and the Transport Research Institute
Ian Pearson	Director, Futurizon and former BT Futurologist
Steven Stewart	Director of Corporate Communications, Stagecoach Group
Dr Jillian Anable	University of Aberdeen

 

Click this link for full details and to register 

Friday, 21 November 2008 00:00

PhD Studentships

PhD Studentship:  Any Area of Transport and/or Maritime Economics/Business

Applications are invited for two fully funded three-year PhD studentships within the Transport Research Institute.  The studentships will cover tuition fees to home/EU level and will provide a standard living allowance (stipend), currently £12,940 per annum for 2008/09.  Overseas students are eligible to apply but will be liable to pay the difference between home/EU and overseas fees.  Note that fees are subject to change annually throughout the programme of study.

The studentship is expected to start as soon as possible.

Applicants must be highly motivated and must normally hold at least a first or second class honours degree or equivalent.  Candidates whose first language is not English must meet the University’s English language requirements.

An application form (FP1 form) and more general details on research can be found by clicking here.

Please send all formal applications, a CV and a completed “Supplementary Personal Information Form” and “Tuition Fee Classification Questionnaire” by November 28th to:

Caroline Graham, Graduate School, Edinburgh Napier University, Merchiston Campus, Edinburgh, EH10 5DT
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: 0131 455 2305

Informal enquiries can be made to Mr. Yakov Boglev, TRI Projects Officer, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , +44 (0)131 455 2951)