News

High-speed Delhi-Meerut RRTS rapid rail reaches capital as Modi inaugurates 13-km stretch

82-km Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System or Namo Bharat corridor is expected to be fully operational by June 2025. It will cut travel time between Delhi & Meerut to under an hour. In a major boost to regional connectivity, a section of the high-speed Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), set to reduce travel time between Delhi and Meerut to less than an hour, is now operational. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday inaugurated a 13-km stretch—between Sahibabad (Uttar Pradesh) and New Ashok Nagar (Delhi)—of the 82-km RRTS or Namo Bharat corridor at a grand event, ahead of the Delhi assembly elections.The PM also took a ride on the train on the 13 km stretch. The train service between the two stations in Delhi and Meerut will be open to the public from 5 pm Sunday. Ticket prices will range from Rs 150 (standard coach) to Rs 225 (premium coach).

Read more

United Airlines Set to Introduce Free Starlink Wi-Fi for Passengers

United Airlines has one final Christmas present for flyers: Free Wi-Fi is coming sooner than originally promised.The Chicago-based carrier announced Sunday that it will start installing Starlink Wi-Fi across its two-cabin regional fleet in the coming weeks.The first aircraft to receive Starlink Wi-Fi, an Embraer E175 regional jet, will be outfitted with a Starlink radome in February and will reenter scheduled commercial service in the spring Furthermore, United now plans to outfit its entire fleet of two-cabin regional jets by the end of 2025 and have its first mainline Starlink-enabled plane in the air before the end of this year. United has committed to installing Starlink across its fleet of more than 1,000 jets — a feat that's sure to take at least a few years. (United isn't providing a timeline for when it expects these Wi-Fi upgrades to be fully completed.) In addition to a faster rollout schedule, United emphasized once again that internet access will be free for all United MileagePlus customers. Additionally, the airline will debut a new landing and entertainment page for Starlink-enabled aircraft. This upgraded experience will offer access to streaming services, shopping, gaming and more.In September, United shocked the industry when it announced that it would add free fleetwide Starlink Wi-Fi.

Read more

Art and transformation breathe new life into Kaohsiung Port

Kaohsiung Port, Taiwan's largest, has transformed from an industrial hub into a tourist destination, blending artistic spaces and scenic views that showcase the city’s charm. Kaohsiung Port, located in southern Taiwan, is the largest port in the country and the 13th largest in the world. It is situated at the junction of five administrative districts. Developed and expanded by the Japanese between 1895 and 1945, Kaohsiung Port was initially designed for industrial use, not tourism. However, over the past two decades, the port has undergone a revitalization, becoming an attraction in the city.One iconic feature is the Dagang Bridge, Taiwan's first swing bridge. Its white design, inspired by dolphins and seashells, makes it a standout landmark. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the harbor from the bridge. Near the Dagang Bridge, abandoned warehouses have been repurposed into public art spaces, drawing both locals and international tourists.According to the Kaohsiung City Tourism Bureau, the port is considered the economic heart and a symbol of the city. Enhanced infrastructure and landscapes have transformed the area into a representation of Kaohsiung's character.

Read more

Vietnam Airlines Sparks a New Green Revolution in Aviation Sector

Vietnam Airlines leads Vietnam’s green aviation era, becoming the first to use sustainable aviation fuel on EU flights, driving eco-friendly travel forward. Vietnam Airlines, a member of the SkyTeam alliance, has announced that it is the first Vietnamese airline to implement sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on flights departing from European airports. Starting January 1, the airline began incorporating a minimum 2% SAF blend on its EU departures, with plans to gradually increase this to 6% by 2030, 20% by 2035, and 70% by 2050. Similarly, for flights departing from the UK in 2025, Vietnam Airlines will use a 2% SAF blend, targeting 10% by 2030 and 22% by 2040. This SAF initiative aligns with Vietnam’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. In May 2024, Vietnam Airlines made history with flight VN660 from Singapore to Hanoi, becoming the country’s first airline to use SAF for commercial passenger operations. Despite its environmental benefits, SAF remains significantly more expensive than conventional jet fuel, costing up to six times as much in some cases. The airline estimates an annual increase of approximately $4.8 million in operating costs for its European network due to SAF adoption.

Read more

Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Hits Peak Speed Of 180 Kmph

The Vande Bharat sleeper train, planned for long and medium-distance journeys, has achieved a peak speed of 180 kilometres per hour during multiple trials in the last three days, the Ministry of Railways said on Friday. The trials will continue till January-end, before world-class travel is made available to people across the country, it added. In a post on X, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video of a successful trial in Kota division. "Vande Bharat (Sleeper) testing at 180 kmph," he wrote on the micro-blogging site. The 32-second video shows a full glass of water adjacent to a mobile on a plain surface inside a Vande Bharat sleeper train. The static water level can be seen in the video as the train achieves near constant peak speed of 180 kilometre per hour.

Read more

Boeing Implements New Global Safety Reforms

Boeing has outlined progress in its safety and quality improvement plan, marking a significant effort to restore public trust in its aircraft. These changes come after years of criticism over declining manufacturing standards, culminating in incidents like the Alaska Airlines 737 Max fuselage failure in January 2024. For travelers, these improvements reflect a renewed focus on safety, essential for maintaining confidence in air travel. The company has introduced measures such as increased confidentiality protections for workers reporting issues, expanded workforce training, random quality audits, and updated training documentation. Boeing presented these reforms during a June 2024 tour, signaling its intent to prioritize safety across its production lines. Outgoing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Mike Whitaker has emphasized the need for ongoing oversight, expressing cautious optimism about Boeing’s commitment to these changes. Despite high-profile incidents like the Alaska Airlines decompression and last week’s Jeju Air crash, aviation experts continue to affirm that commercial air travel remains one of the safest transportation methods. Fatal incidents involving major manufacturers like Boeing are statistically rare, thanks to rigorous industry safety protocols.

Read more