Freight is rolling again this morning on the South Island’s Main North Line, ten months after November’s Kaikoura earthquake, Transport Minister Simon Bridges announced today.
The first train carrying goods into Christchurch from Picton is due to arrive in Christchurch by 2pm today, marking the start of a five nights per week service.
“Keeping freight flowing easily and efficiently around New Zealand is critical to our economic growth and keeping our communities connected,” Mr Bridges says.
“Having this key freight service running again is an immense achievement, which will take pressure off the inland routes while helping with the rebuild of State Highway 1 during the day.
“Today’s first rail services, even in a limited capacity, will take around 2000 trucks off the road each month, building to 4000 trucks when the line is fully operating again by the end of the year.”
Following November’s earthquake, there were close to 60 major damage sites, including tunnels, bridges and embankments, and the line had been buried under more than 100 slips and landslides. Approximately 60 bridges were damaged and repairs required at more than 750 sites.
“Over 1500 workers from KiwiRail, the NZ Transport Agency and their partners in the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery alliance (NCTIR) have done a fantastic job in what have been challenging conditions,” Mr Bridges says.
“The Government is committed to restoring the road and rail services along this important coastal corridor, and it’s great to see the significant progress being made.
“We have also provided a range of business support packages and support for the tourism industry and primary sector to help get the most affected communities back on their feet and rebuilding the local economy.”
| A Beehive release || September 15, 2017 |||
High-strength 50mm diameter reinforcing steel bars in production at Pacific Steel, Ōtāhuhu.
Steel reinforcing bars made in Auckland for the City Rail Link project are the first of their kind to be manufactured in New Zealand.
The steel bars will help hold up the historic Chief Post Office when the rail tunnels are constructed beneath it and keep water out of excavation carried out below sea level.Difficult to source from overseas
Products like this are usually sourced from overseas, but this proved difficult for the CRL because offshore manufacturers could provide it only in quantities much greater than required.
CRL contractors Downer Soletanche Bachy liaised with New Zealand based suppliers over the possibility of manufacturing the bars locally, and Ōtāhuhu-based Pacific Steel took up the challenge.
Pacific Steel is New Zealand’s only reinforcing steel manufacturer. After successful trials, it has been engaged to make the bars, using local materials provided by New Zealand Steel in Glenbrook.Project more efficient thanks to NZ industry
Project Director Chris Meale said that, thanks to Pacific Steel coming to the party, the project has become much more efficient.
"It's great that our contractor has been able to work with a local business for mutual benefit and that in doing so we have created a first for the local steel industry," he said.
| An ourAuckland release || September 12, 2017 |||
Telematics provider Teletrac Navman has announced it has reached the 100,000-asset milestone across its New Zealand and Australian customers.
It recently installed its GPS fleet tracking technology in the Safety MAN Road Safety Truck, an initiative led by the NZ Trucking Association.
“We work with thousands of companies across Aotearoa, from grassroots family businesses to large multinational operators in transport, construction and professional services, and we are thrilled to reach this milestone,” said Ian Daniel, Vice President and Managing Director Asia Pacific, Teletrac Navman.
“We track everything from powerful freight trucks to SPCA Auckland’s rescue vans, and nippy Domino’s Pizza delivery vehicles to tradies’ tool-laden utes. Our heritage is rooted in New Zealand and we proudly partner with our Kiwi customers to leverage technology to increase productivity and profitability of their businesses.”
The global fleet and asset management solutions provider's beginnings trace back to Auckland in 1986, with vehicles in New Zealand and Australia representing around one fifth of the 550,000 vehicles and assets that Teletrac Navman tracks and manages worldwide.
| A PrimeMover release || September 12, 2017 |||
Mainfreight has just opened a new air and ocean branch in Milan (Italy). The new facility is a continuation of the company's steady expansion across Europe, allowing Mainfreight to offer high levels of customer service and quality by controlling the supply chain end to end.
From the new Milan office, the local team provides a full spectrum of air and ocean services, including customs clearance.
Mainfreight, located in New Zealand, is a 3PL+ logistics service provider backed by a powerful global network for customer-specific and preferably integrated warehousing, transport and distribution solutions.
In Europe, the company operates from offices in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Romania, Russia, Poland, Ukraine and the UK. (mw)
| A Mainfreight release || September 11, 2017 |||
Another four Iveco Stralis prime movers for C3
We’ve heard of a range of different reasons as to why operators choose the Iveco product, often its adaptability and cost of life that is nominated as the prime reasons.
But in this case, it was simply a case of the Iveco product copping a battering and consistently coming back for more.
New Zealand logistics company – C3 has just expanded its fleet of 16 Iveco Stralis prime movers by another four trucks.
The new trucks will join their older siblings in Western Australia – hauling wood chips from sustainably-grown plantations across.
C3 also operate several trucks from the city of Portland in south-western Victoria in the same application but configured as B-Doubles.
Racking up about 400kms a day, some of the Stralis trucks in the C3 fleet have covered more than a million kilometres.
But C3 Operations Manager – Albany, Craig Fildes, says they just keep coming back for more punishment.
“A lot of the roads the trucks travel on especially in the plantations – as you could imagine – are not very nice, the trucks can take a battering but the Ivecos handle it well.
“The drivers are also happy with them, especially with their comfortable, quiet cabin.”
c3 logistocs iveco stralisThe new additions to the fleet are powered by the 560hp 13 litre Cursor engine coupled to a ZF Eurotronic II 16-speed transmission.
“This time we went for the higher engine output and worked with Iveco to select the best GCM – the AS-Ls allow us to work at our desired target of 90 tonnes which helps productivity.
“The AS-Ls do quite an amazing job – they are a good all-round fit for the application.
“They’re comfortable, quiet, they’re easy to work with and are competitively priced.”
| A BehindTheWheel release || September 1, 2017 |||
New regulations for New Zealand’s fuel specifications will support the growth of lower-emission fuels that are better for people, the environment and cars, Energy and Resources Minister Judith Collins announced today.
The Regulations set out minimum standards for fuel performance, and change incrementally over time to keep up with new technology and international best practice.
“There are four significant changes – three that enable greater fuel supply choice and market-led innovation in the fuel mix; and one to reduce harmful emissions:
· Introducing a total oxygen limit, which potentially allows a wider range of fuel blends;
· Increasing New Zealand’s limit for methanol in petrol from one to three per cent volume;
· Raising the biodiesel blend limit in diesel from five to seven per cent; and
· Reducing the sulphur level allowed in petrol from 50 to 10 parts per million.
“The changes carry multiple benefits for consumers and for our environment.
“Three of the changes – the introduction of a total oxygen limit, increasing the biodiesel blend limit, and increasing the methanol blend limit – could potentially allow more flexibility in fuel mixes, a reduction in harmful emissions and increased diversity and enhanced security of local supply.
“The other change of reducing the sulphur level in petrol is specifically targeted to reduce harmful emissions, which will have health and environmental benefits. This is consistent with the most stringent fuel standards in the world, most notably in Europe, Japan and the United States,” says Ms Collins.
All of the amendments will take effect from 2 October 2017, apart from the change to the maximum sulphur level, which will come into effect on 1 July 2018.
More information is available at: http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/sectors-industries/energy/liquid-fuel-market/reviewing-aspects-of-the-engine-fuel-specifications-regulations-2011
| A Beehive release || August 22, 2017 |||
KiwiRail has linked up the track between Picton and Christchurch for the first time since November’s Kaikoura earthquake devastated the line, Transport Minister Simon Bridges announced today.
“Staff held a small ceremony near Rakautara, north of Kaikoura this morning, and completed the final weld,” Mr Bridges says.
“This is an important milestone in getting the line open again, and in easing the pressure on upper South Island roads.”
Teams from around the country have been working to replace twisted track, rebuild bridges, repair tunnels, and clear enormous slips along the route in order to get freight moving again on rail in the South Island.
“The line is a critical component of the New Zealand transport network, carrying around 1 million tonnes of freight annually before the earthquake,” Mr Bridges says.
“While there is still work to be done, KiwiRail is making good progress towards returning freight services to this route.
“Getting it open will ease pressure on the alternate road, which has been the main route to shift freight south since the earthquake closed the coastal road and rail networks. It will also help with the reinstatement of State Highway 1 and the railway by moving materials to worksites along the route.
“A lot of work still remains to be done, but the workers from KiwiRail and its partners in the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery (NCTIR) alliance have done a great job getting it to this stage,” Mr Bridges says.
There were close to 60 major damage sites including tunnels, bridges, embankments, and the line had been buried under more than 100 slips and landslides. Approximately 60 bridges were damaged and repairs are being carried out at more than 750 sites.
“The Government is committed to restoring the road and rail services along this important coastal corridor, and it is great to see the significant progress being made,” Mr Bridges says.
| A Beehive release || August 9, 2017 |||
New Zealand start-up manufacturer REYEDR (pronounced rider) has announced the latest in augmented reality (AR) smart tech for the safety-conscious motorcycle enthusiast.
The REYEDR HUD is a heads-up display that retrofits to a motorcyclist’s helmet and shows speed, navigation, distance and more. It runs on the REYEDR smartphone App to provide the rider with key information about the bike, route and ride group. It also has the ability to alert emergency services in the event of an accident.
Using a retrofit approach, the HUD fits on the chinbar of any full-face motorcycle helmet and converts it into a smart device. A transparent screen sits just in the periphery of the motorcyclist’s vision, allowing riders to keep their eyes on the road while still maintaining awareness of key riding conditions.
REYEDR reduces distraction by providing information needed within the motorcyclist’s natural line of sight. There is no need to refocus to see the virtual image, so riders can keep eyes on the road at all times. The GUI (graphical user interface) is designed to be non-distracting and display the right amount of information — colours change to draw attention when needed.
For instance, navigation arrows and distance to the next turn-off change from green to orange to red when approaching the corner. Similarly, speed colours change from green to orange when approaching the speed limit and red when riding at the speed limit and over.
REYEDR showcased the HUD device at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The system connects via Bluetooth 5.0 connection and a social-ready smartphone app (compatible with iOS and Android devices).
Motorcyclists can find interesting rides and connect with a larger community of bikers that share similar interests. Riders can save photos and/or a map of their route for a personal log, which they can share with others.
On Wednesday, the council’s Finance Committee is being asked to give urgent funding approval to purchase 17 new battery powered trains, or Independently Powered Electric Multiple Units (IPEMUs) as they’re referred to officially.
The council paper and the full business case notes that the urgency is because a deposit needs to be made by September this year to ensure delivery of these new trains in 2019 which is when the capacity constraints really start to bite. Given how plainly obvious this issue has been for some considerable time, it’s a bit absurd that it now needs to be made so quickly.
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At two minutes after midnight on May 12th, the hyperloop became a little bit less of a pipe dream and little bit more of a reality. On that day, the Los Angeles-based startup Hyperloop One conducted the first full-system test of its technology in the desert north of Las Vegas. As several dozen of the company’s engineers and executives watched an array of monitors nervously, a metal sled accelerated to 70 mph (112 km/h), achieved levitation, and flew about 500 feet (152 meters) down the length of a 1,600-foot (487-meter) steel tube that had most of the air sucked out of it.
On the surface, it seemed like a nondescript event, but nonetheless the group broke out into ecstatic cheers. Hyperloop One co-founder and chief engineer Josh Giegel nervously fumbled with a bottle of champagne as he thanked his wife, while executive chairman Shervin Pishevar wiped away tears.
A little more than two months later, Giegel and Pishevar sat down with me in a private club in midtown Manhattan to talk about that day — and more importantly, what comes next. The elation of that moment had worn off, and both men were eager to get back to work on their dream of building the world’s first hyperloop system. The concept of nearly supersonic travel through hundreds of miles of vacuum-sealed tubes will always seem outlandish to most people. But then again, most people haven’t heard of Hyperloop One.
Palace of the Alhambra, Spain
By: Charles Nathaniel Worsley (1862-1923)
From the collection of Sir Heaton Rhodes
Oil on canvas - 118cm x 162cm
Valued $12,000 - $18,000
Offers invited over $9,000
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
Mount Egmont with Lake
By: John Philemon Backhouse (1845-1908)
Oil on Sea Shell - 13cm x 14cm
Valued $2,000-$3,000
Offers invited over $1,500
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242