Why trackless trams are ready to replace light rail

I began my life as an activist academic in 1979 when the Western Australian government closed the Fremantle railway, saying buses would be better. Patronage immediately fell by 30% and I ran a four-year campaign to save the railway. We won. I have been writing books and running campaigns ever since on why trains and trams are better than buses. But I have changed my mind. The technology has changed, and I think it will end the need for new light rail.

CRRC Zhuzhou Institute developed the rubber-tyred autonomous
 rail transit (ART) system, or trackless tram, which has already
been trialled in Zhuzhou, China.

“Trackless trams” are based on technology created in Europe and China by taking innovations from high-speed rail and putting them in a bus.

I went to China to check out the CRRC trackless tram (they call it autonomous rail transit, or ART). I came back convinced it’s a transformative transit technology.

Read the piece from The Conversation by the Professor of Sustainability from Curtin University, Peter Newman - “Why trackless trams are ready to replace light rail.”

Victorian Government offers cash incentive to help households get better energy deal

Every Victorian household will get a $50 bonus for visiting an energy comparison website, in an election-year giveaway to encourage people to find better power deals.

More than 700,000 people had used the website
in the past three years to cut their electricity bills.

But the State Opposition accused the Andrews Government of trying to bribe voters by investing $48 million for the power-saving bonus in next month's budget.

Households will be eligible for the payment if they use the Energy Compare website between July and December, which shows consumers the best tariff for them based on their electricity and gas use.

People are not obliged to take up an offer or switch plans to be eligible for the $50 bonus.

Premier Daniel Andrews said a typical household had saved $330 on their energy bills in the first year alone by using the website.

Read the story by Jean Edwards from ABC News - “Victorian Government offers cash incentive to help households get better energy deal.”