AGP Executive Report

Bus Upgrades: Three renovated stations on Manila’s Edsa Busway reopened, with wider platforms, tactile paving and clearer passenger information; elevators are still being repaired. Chicago’s CTA is also seeking feedback on faster buses, more frequent service and better transfers. Safety: Three children were injured when a double-decker school bus struck a railway bridge in Newport, Wales, disrupting trains while the bridge was inspected. Rail Investment: Metra plans to introduce battery-powered trains on Chicago’s Rock Island Line in 2028, aiming for quieter, cleaner and more frequent service. A proposed Cascadia high-speed line would link Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, with public feedback open through Nov. 13. Rail and Freight: Saudi railways carried 40.9 million passengers and moved 3.9 million tonnes of freight in the third quarter. Fleet Innovation: Australia will test vehicle-to-grid technology with up to 130 electric vehicles, exploring whether commercial fleets can feed power back to the grid.

Passenger Rules: England is preparing fines of up to £100 for loud music, vaping, littering and other nuisance behaviour on buses. Authorised officers and police—not drivers—would enforce the rules; unions say stronger protection for staff is still needed. Rail Investment: A new Bradford Interchange, planned for the 2030s, is expected to connect the city to Northern Powerhouse Rail and West Yorkshire’s proposed mass transit network, with more than £1 billion in projected economic benefits. EV Transition: South African industry and government figures used AutoWeek to discuss building demand for electric vehicles and expanding charging infrastructure. Regional Connectivity: Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Link will offer a 30% economy-fare discount in its first month when passenger services begin on December 12. The US also pledged to expand Central Asian transport corridors linking Asian and European markets. Bus Networks: Wirral’s buses are returning to public control, with more frequent evening and weekend services and new hospital links. Freight Resilience: Ukraine’s road-haulage sector warns that driver shortages and mobilisation rules could leave trucks idle and weaken critical supply routes.

Passenger Rules: England is moving to fine bus passengers up to £100 for loud music, vaping or littering, subject to local approval; rail passengers who ignore instructions can face fines of up to £1,000. Scotland is not included. School Transport: An investigation found six nonverbal Brooklyn students were lost on a school bus for more than four hours after it went to the wrong schools, prompting calls for stronger safeguards. Bus Networks: Public control of Wirral buses begins this weekend, bringing new routes and a low-emission fleet; Scotland’s government says it plans to bring its bus network under public control by 2031. Rail Projects: Seattle’s Ballard light-rail extension faces a funding gap, with Sound Transit leaders set to discuss costs and timelines at a community forum. Cross-Border Travel: Oman-based booking platform Shawy has added routes to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, bringing its network to more than 100 services. Accessible Mobility: A Greater Anglia-funded scooter hire scheme in Jaywick aims to help residents make longer journeys by train.

Road Safety: Malaysia is preparing a national road-safety plan, with motorcycle lanes and safer infrastructure among the priorities; motorcyclists and pillion riders accounted for nearly two-thirds of 6,537 road deaths last year. Passenger Rules: England’s new guidance lets local authorities fine bus passengers up to £100 for refusing to stop nuisance behaviour such as playing music aloud, vaping or littering. Train operators can separately pursue penalties of up to £1,000 for antisocial behaviour. Rail Fares: East Coast Rail Link tickets from Gombak to Kota Bharu will start at RM125 for economy travel, ahead of a planned mid-December launch; prices will vary with demand. Bus Operations: Israel’s Dan group has completed its NIS150 million purchase of Tnufa, which operates services in the Jerusalem corridor and Samaria and carries NIS380 million in debt. Automated Driving: Volvo and Nvidia are expanding their partnership, aiming to bring new driver-assistance technology to vehicles before 2030, with more advanced hands-free features planned.

Road Safety: Five people, including an 11-year-old, died when a car swerved around potholes and collided with a state bus in Maharashtra, prompting protests over road conditions. Passenger Safety: A Srinagar-bound bus was attacked in Haryana, injuring two; police rounded up two suspects. A fatal shooting at a Midtown Manhattan subway station is under investigation, while a Calgary transit bus crash and fire killed three and injured 10. Rail Operations: A false fire alarm disrupted Auckland trains; New Zealand’s accident investigators also flagged a near-doubling of trains passing red signals as a priority safety concern. Transit Policy: Scotland plans to bring bus services under public control by 2031. Victoria Labor has pledged weekly public transport fare caps if re-elected. Automotive: India proposed BS7 emissions rules from 2029 as Hyundai announced a $15.5 billion investment and Stellantis pledged a further Rs 4,000 crore.

Holiday Travel: Chennai’s Ayudha Puja rush sent 415,000 passengers out of the city on 9,571 bus services over three days, including nearly 3,000 extra trips. Commuter Routes: Gyeonggi Province is inviting residents with long Seoul commutes to propose routes for its reserved-seat rush-hour buses, with local governments to assess demand and feasibility. Freight Links: Hungary says it will allow Ukrainian grain to cross its territory to Western Europe, potentially reviving rail transit in sealed cars. Fleet Expansion: Peshawar has received all 52 buses ordered for its BRT, lifting the fleet to 296; Karachi expects its first new buses in November. Rail Disruption: Planned works will suspend trains on parts of the Utrecht–Arnhem route from October 20 to 31, with replacement buses and alternative rail routes available. Vehicle Security: Norwegian soldiers found recordings from Chinese-made connected cars used during a military exercise, including footage of facility access codes; officials have not established whether data was shared externally.

Transit Safety: A fatal shooting at Manhattan’s 53rd Street-Seventh Avenue subway station disrupted service, while police investigate a Delhi bus crash that killed one person and injured four. Calgary’s deadly collision involving two transit buses is also under investigation; an expert says CNG buses remain safe overall. Rail Disruption: Barcelona is suspending southern coastal trains amid severe flood warnings. Bus Policy: Scotland’s government plans to bring bus networks under public control by 2031 and extend its £2 fare cap to Aberdeen and the northeast from April. Fleet Investment: Malaysia’s Rapid Bus plans to acquire 1,600 electric buses by 2031, starting with 250 for Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

Electric Buses: Malaysia’s Rapid Bus plans to add 1,600 electric buses to its Rapid KL and Rapid Penang fleets by 2031. The first 250, costing RM200 million, are being rolled out, with Penang’s service launched this week. Safety: A bus plunged into a ditch in Rajasthan, killing eight and injuring 17; a separate Delhi bus crash killed one person. In British Columbia, a collision involving a semi-truck, transit bus and other vehicles injured 13. Rail Freight: Russia and Iran say construction of the 162-kilometre Rasht–Astara railway could begin in 2027, completing a key link in the International North-South Transport Corridor. Public Transit: West Yorkshire residents say planned mass-transit routes should prioritize poorly connected areas, as the region reassesses its tram network.

Calgary Crash: A collision involving two transit buses and other vehicles killed three people and injured 16; police say natural-gas tanks on one bus ignited and exploded. Tunnel Disruption: A minibus collided with a freight train at the Channel Tunnel terminal, injuring 19 and disrupting services. Rail Changes: Minsk–Adler trains will take a diverted route until late November, with an extra Gomel–Minsk service for affected passengers. Fares and Fuel: London bus and tram fares rise 10p next month, while higher diesel prices are straining school districts and bus operators. Auto Policy: France and Germany agreed to seek more flexibility in EU car-emissions rules while supporting the European auto industry. Transit Safety: Kyiv has started installing mobile shelters at public transport stops, with 14 more planned to protect commuters during air raids.

Major Incidents: A Calgary chain-reaction crash involving two transit buses killed three people and injured 19. In France, a minibus struck a departing Eurotunnel train, injuring 19. Infrastructure: Work has begun on New York’s $11 billion Port Authority Bus Terminal, with temporary traffic changes expected to delay buses; the terminal is due to open in 2035. Cardiff’s first Crossrail phase is now forecast to cost £120 million, up from about £100 million. Transit Funding: Cape Town warns that ending the national grant by 2027/28 could threaten MyCiTi services and expansion. In British Columbia, the NDP has pledged $250 million toward Surrey’s planned $700 million bus rapid transit line. Passenger Services: Auckland Transport is refunding more than NZ$450,000 after a ticketing fault overcharged 14,400 riders. Rail Links: India has sent the first 18 of 200 passenger coaches to Bangladesh, supporting plans for new intercity services.

Bus Fares: Tamil Nadu omni-bus operators deny festival-season fare hikes, blaming online ticket aggregators, and urge a pause on taxes for out-of-state buses. Fleet Electrification: Sonoma County is adding seven electric buses and backup-powered charging, bringing its electric fleet to 18 and supporting emergency evacuations. Transit Safety: New York’s MTA has removed four fare agents from duty while it investigates a physical altercation with a Brooklyn bus passenger. Service Expansion: Boston plans five free neighborhood shuttle routes in 2027; in British Columbia, the NDP promises $250 million for Surrey–White Rock bus rapid transit and free passes for low-income seniors if re-elected. Network Planning: Saskatoon is seeking public feedback on two bus network redesign options through Nov. 22. Rail Recovery: South Africa’s transport minister has showcased PRASA signalling upgrades, a refurbished station and a new long-distance bus fleet as part of the rail recovery programme.

India’s Vehicle Rules: Draft BS-VII standards would begin in 2029, with phased requirements through 2035 covering emissions testing, battery durability and vehicle monitoring. Cleaner Freight: Jindal Stainless has put its first 10 electric trucks to work between Odisha, Kharagpur and Kolkata, targeting 71 tonnes of monthly CO₂ savings. Rail Renewal: Singapore’s Bukit Panjang LRT upgrade is on track to finish by year-end, after renewal of its fleet, signalling and power systems. UK Transit Plans: Hertfordshire’s proposed £2 billion trackless-tram network would connect five rail stations and could revive the Watford–Croxley branch; a second London stop for international trains also has union backing. Bus Fares: Maharashtra rejected a proposed 15% festive-season fare rise, while Edo State is commissioning 50 CNG buses to expand lower-emission public transport.

Rail Safety: Wellington’s inquiry found a passenger train passed a red signal before striking a concrete block; investigators are still probing why. Pakistan’s deadly Rehman Baba Express derailment is also under investigation. Metro Expansion: Riyadh has ordered 94 trains to raise network capacity by 60%, with deliveries due from 2028. MARTA plans to start building its first rapid bus corridor on Oct. 26, but its new trains won’t enter service this year as safety checks continue. Seamless Connections: IslandLink and Hullo have coordinated bus and ferry trips linking Vancouver Island communities with downtown Vancouver. Freight: Egypt has opened a 700-million-pound dry port in Alexandria to shift cargo handling away from seaport quays, ease congestion and connect ports with industrial and distribution centres. Accessibility: New elevators make West Harlem’s 137 St-City College subway station accessible, improving access for riders with disabilities.

Rail Investment: Riyadh has awarded Siemens and Alstom $1.47 billion in contracts for 94 metro trains, a fleet expansion expected to lift network capacity by 60%. Guinea has also run its first passenger service on the Simandou railway, built to carry iron ore exports and support wider economic growth. Bus Fleets: Volvo Buses India won its largest domestic order: 200 coaches for Maharashtra’s state operator, for intercity and overnight routes. Capacity and Disruption: CrossCountry plans to add eight Voyager trains, creating 60,000 extra seats a week from 2027. A regional transport strike is disrupting Dutch buses and trains, while a passenger train derailment in Pakistan killed five and injured 30. Reliability: Malaysia’s Kelana Jaya rail line recorded 30% more incidents than last year, with rolling-stock issues behind most disruptions.

Rail Trade and Technology: India’s RITES sent its first 18-coach passenger train to Bangladesh, the start of a 200-coach order. China’s new 2026–30 rail plan targets advances in high-speed trains, digital systems and safety. New Connections: Windsor Locks’ $46.1 million station opens Oct. 18, bringing Hartford Line and Amtrak service downtown and adding frequent bus links to Bradley International Airport. Electric Buses: Delhi launched 150 electric buses and opened new charging stations as it expands cleaner public transport. Service Disruptions: NJ Transit riders face five weeks of schedule changes during Portal Bridge work; in Spain, a train fire forced 283 passengers to evacuate and halted Madrid–Barcelona high-speed service for hours. Safety: A passenger-train derailment in Pakistan killed several people and injured dozens.

Supply Chains: Peak-season freight volumes are rising but spreading earlier across the calendar as shippers adapt to geopolitical risks and regulatory shifts. Rail Safety: A passenger train derailed in Pakistan, killing five and injuring at least 36; rescue and track-clearance work is underway. Rail Investment: Alstom won an £80 million contract to refurbish and maintain eight more CrossCountry Voyager trains, adding capacity to the UK network. Malaysia Transit: Prasarana says 26 new trains and round-the-clock maintenance are planned for Kuala Lumpur’s Kelana Jaya LRT, where reliability has worsened and rolling-stock faults drive most disruptions. China’s Rail Push: A 2026–2030 plan targets breakthroughs in 100 railway technologies and research into 400 km/h high-speed trains and 600 km/h maglev. Electric Buses: GreenCell Mobility raised Rs330 crore to expand its Indian fleet, targeting more than 5,000 buses across 105 cities.