Latest in Automotive
Otago Daily Times
12 minutes ago
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Drivers warned of disruptions
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is advising drivers of potential delays across the region over the next fortnight. The agency yesterday issued a statement noting 22 sites in Otago and Southland that may cause "minor disruptions for motorists". "The following work where traffic management is in place may mean short delays but is important for maintenance of the highway network. "Road users are asked to plan ahead and drive with care through these areas," the statement said. An NZTA spokesman said the agency was eager to make sure people were aware of "the breadth of the work" under way in the region. "We're just wanting to get that across to people ... a lot of freight companies and various parties, it's helpful to them in their day-to-day having that kind of information all in one place." Key A. SH 6 Frankton, near the intersection with Hansen Road, Pavement Repairs: Due to road surface repairs, there will be Stop/Go traffic management with a 30km/h temporary speed restriction in place on Sunday 13 July and Monday 14 July between 9pm and 6am. Plan your journey accordingly and expect up to 5 minute delays. B. SH 6 Cromwell to Gibbston (Nevis Bluff): Due to helicopter inspections, there will be intermittent holdings of traffic in both directions for up to 10 minutes at a time on Monday 14 July between 12pm and 2pm. Plan your journey accordingly and expect up to 10 minute delays travelling through this area during this time. (Please note these works are weather dependent and may be postponed at short notice). C. SH 8A Tarras to Wanaka: Due to water tabling work, the road will be under Stop/Go traffic management with a 30km/h speed restriction in place on Thursday 17 July to Saturday 19 July between 9am and 4pm. A road shoulder closure will remain in place outside of working hours. D. SH 8 Lindis Pass: Due to water tabling work, the road will be under Stop/Go traffic management with a 30km/h speed restriction in place on Tuesday 15 July and Wednesday 16 July between 9am and 4pm. A road shoulder closure will remain in place outside of working hours. E. SH 83 Aviemore: Due to coring work, there will be Stop/Go traffic management with a 30km/h speed restriction in place on Tuesday 15 July and Wednesday 16 July between 7am and 5pm. F. SH 83 Georgetown, Bridge Repairs: Due to bridge deck clearing, there will be Stop/Go traffic management with a 30km/h speed restriction in place on Monday 14 July between 7am and 6pm. G. SH 1 Waireka Creek Bridge, Bridge Repairs: Due to bridge deck debris removal, there will be Stop/Go traffic management with a 30km/h speed restriction in place on Monday 14 July between 7am and 6pm. H. SH 1 Maheno, Bridge Repairs: Due to bridge deck debris removal, there will be Stop/Go traffic management with a 30km/h speed restriction in place on Wednesday 16 July between 7am and 85 1km south of Glenpark: Due to work on the power supply, there will be Stop/Go traffic management with a 30km/h speed restriction in place from Monday 7 July to Friday 25 July between 8am and 5pm. I. SH 85 1km south of Glenpark: Due to work on the power supply, there will be Stop/Go traffic management with a 30km/h speed restriction in place from Monday 7 July to Friday 25 July between 8am and 5pm. J. SH 85 Meadowbank to Glenpark: Due to roadworks, there will be Stop/Go traffic management with a 30km/h speed restriction in place from Monday 14 July to Friday 1 August, 24/7. K. SH 1 Waikouaiti: Due to signage repair, there will be Stop/Go traffic management with a 30km/h speed restriction in place on Thursday 17 July between 7am and 7pm. L. SH 1 Waikouaiti South to Evansdale, various locations: Due to coring work, there will be Stop/Go traffic management with a 30km/h speed restriction in place on Tuesday 15 July and Wednesday 16 July between 7am and 5pm. M. SH 88 Port Chalmers: Due to water works, there will be Stop/Go traffic management with a 30km/h speed restriction in place from Wednesday 2 July to Friday 18 July between 8:30am and 5:30pm. Plan your journey accordingly allowing extra time for travel. N. SH 1 Dunedin, Great King St: Due to underground ducting work, there will be Stop/Go traffic management with a 30km/h speed restriction in place from Sunday 20 July to Friday 1 August, 24/7. Plan your journey accordingly allowing extra time for your travel. (Please note these works are weather dependent and may be postponed at short notice). O. SH 86 Momona, near the intersection with Nichols Road: Due to vegetation works, there will be Stop/Go traffic management with a 30km/h speed restriction in place from Sunday 13 July to Wednesday 16 July between 7am and 5pm. P. SH 1 Waihola to Clarendon: Due to coring work, the road will be under Stop/Go traffic management with a 30km/h speed restriction in place on Tuesday 15 July and Wednesday 16 July between 9am and 4pm. A road shoulder closure will remain in place outside of working hours. Q. SH 8 Raes Junction: Due to flood repair work, there will be Stop/Go traffic management with a 30km/h speed restriction in place from Monday 14 July to Friday 18 July between 7am and 7pm. R. SH 8 Milton to Raes Junction: Due to drainage work, there will be Stop/Go traffic management with a 30km/h speed restriction in place from Monday 14 July to Friday 18 July between 7am and 7pm. S. SH 1 Milton to Balclutha, various locations: Due to drainage works, there will be Stop/Go traffic management with a 30km/h speed restriction in place from Monday 14 July to Friday 18 July between 7am and 7pm. T. SH 90 Waikoikoi, near the intersection with Koi Road: Due to drainage works, there will be Stop/Go traffic management with a 30km/h speed restriction in place from Monday 7 July to Friday 18 July between 7am and 7pm. Plan your journey accordingly allowing extra time for travel. U. SH 94 Mossburn, at the intersection of SH94 & SH97: Due to pavement repairs, there will be Stop/Go traffic management with a 30km/h speed restriction in place on Thursday 17 July and Friday 18 July between 9am and 6pm. Plan your journey accordingly allowing extra time for your travel. (Please note these works are weather dependent and may be postponed at short notice). V. SH 1 Invercargill, between Tay St and Eye St: Due to hydrant re-levelling work, the road will be down to one lane with a 30km/h speed restriction in place on Tuesday 15 July between 7am and 7pm. Plan your journey accordingly and take extra care travelling through this area. — APL
The Hindu
14 minutes ago
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Waltair Division adopts MRI technology to ensure safety, punctuality of train operations
Indian Railways has introduced advanced Measuring, Recording, and Instrumentation (MRI) technology to enhance the safety and efficiency of electric traction. The system, mounted on Tower Cars, continuously monitors and records key Overhead Equipment (OHE) parameters such as contact wire height, stagger, and GPS-based asset positioning. Waltair Division of East Coast Railway has adopted this technology to ensure safe and punctual train operations. Divisional Railway Manager Lalit Bohra said pantograph maintenance is crucial, as the device connects the locomotive to the overhead power lines. Manual inspections often fail to detect emerging faults in time, leading to disruptions. The MRI system enables real-time monitoring and proactive maintenance, reducing the risk of pantograph entanglements and conductor failures. Senior Divisional Electrical Engineer (TRD) Shivanad Prasad said the equipment helps assess OHE changes due to maintenance or upgrades, while Senior Divisional Commercial Manager K. Saandeep added that the technology improves safety and punctuality by preventing breakdowns and delays.
New Indian Express
14 minutes ago
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
Air India, Air India Express check fuel control switches in all Boeing aircraft after probe findings
NEW DELHI: Air India has begun inspection of all Boeing aircraft in its fleet following the release of the preliminary report on the Ahmedabad flight crash by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AIIB). The report cited a December 2018 directive from the US-based Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on possible disengagement of fuel control switches in Boeing aircraft. This weekend, Air India initiated checks on the locking mechanisms of all its Boeing 787 aircraft. Its subsidiary, Air India Express, also started inspections of all its Boeing 737s, including its New Generation (NG) models. The DGCA on Monday had also released an order making these checks mandatory. A source said, 'As a precautionary measure, Air India began carrying out checks in the fuel control switches from Saturday. No anomaly has been found in any of them. The airline has 33 Boeings in its fleet with 29 of them presently in operation. The checks on 50 per cent of them have been completed. Four of them are out for long-term maintenance checks and checks will be done on them when they return.' He added, 'We did not expect any of them to have a problem. And no issue has been found.'
The Citizen
17 minutes ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Jeep reveals plans for 2026 including three ‘under study' models
Quiet start to the new year could turn busy should the trio of new models receive sales approval. Stellantis South Africa has confirmed plans of making three new Jeep models available currently defined as being 'under study'. In announcing its plans for 2026, the divisional head of the conglomerate's so-called premium brands comprising Jeep, Alfa Romeo and Leapmotor, Janus Janse van Rensburg, said the mentioned products include not only the Avenger and new Compass, but also the electric Recon due for unveiling soon. At the same time, Janse van Rensburg told the media at Stellantis' annual Media Connect event in Johannesburg last week that more revisions will be applied to the Wrangler and Gladiator in the first quarter of next year. Wrangler Based on the facelift Wrangler that become available in South Africa earlier this year, the added improvements, in accordance with those of the US variant, will consist of a revised colour palette involving a new orange hue called Joose. Under study, and therefore yet to be formally approved, the combination of the stalwart normally aspirated 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine an eight-speed automatic gearbox looks set to make a surprise return after being dropped for the current 2.0-litre Hurricane turbo-petrol with the same 'box. NOW READ: Jeep Wrangler's new turbo engine helps it keep up with the times Likely as a result of increased demand in the United States, where the V6 had been mated solely to a six-speed manual, the setup will possibly yield the same 213kW/353Nm outputs as the pre-facelift Wrangler, although as mentioned, final approval still needs to be made. The biggest surprise though is that consideration is also being given in bringing the Wrangler 392 to South Africa after the recent resumption of Hemi V8 engine production. V8-engine Wrangler 392 is under study for South Africa. Image: Jeep Supposedly phased-out after the debut of the farewell Last Edition 12 months ago, the most powerful production Wrangler ever made keeps hold of the 392 cubic inch or 6.4-litre normally aspirated V8 outputting 350kW/637Nm. First shown five years ago, the 392 will get from 0-60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.5 seconds, and receive the same interior updates as the standard Wrangler without any dynamic or chassis alterations. Special Willys Edition Wrangler could revive the two-door bodystyle. Image: Jeep As mentioned, both the V6 and Wrangler 392 are still under study, as is the third variant, the limited run Willys that pays homage to the original Willys Jeep. Unlike the rest of the Wrangler range offered solely in four-door Unlimited guise, the Willys will, suggestively, herald the return of the two-door bodystyle should approval be given. Gladiator Joining its sibling in arriving next year, the updated Gladiator, which premiered at the end of 2023 in the States, will introduce the same exterior changes, as well as the significantly redesigned interior comprising new air vents, type-C USB ports, improved materials and the new 12.3-inch Uconnect infotainment system. Facelift Gladiator will finally debut in the first quarter of 2026. Image: Jeep Compared to the Wrangler, the local-market Gladiator is set to continue with the Pentastar V6 and eight-speed auto 'box combination as the Hurricane unit cannot be specified in any market. Locally, this is likely to mean the same outputs of 209kW/347Nm. In the pipeline Of the mentioned under study models, the Avenger takes prominence as it had been an on-again, off-again entity for South Africa ever since its world debut two years ago. Long rumoured Avenger has taken another step towards becoming a reality. Image: Jeep Although originally motivated by an electric powerplant, the arrival of a mild-hybrid soon after its launch effectively opened the door for local market availability, though it stands to reason that the 48-volt system could well be omitted should sales commence. In Europe, the setup develops 74kW/205Nm using the familiar 1.2-litre three-cylinder PureTech petrol engine in combination with the belt starter/generator, and a six-speed manual gearbox only. Launched two months ago, the third generation Compass will expectedly fill slot-in above the Avenger in becoming Jeep's eventual flagship. Stellantis has confirmed the new Compass as being under study for the local market. Image: Jeep Set to fill the position soon to be left vacant by the outgoing Grand Cherokee, the Compass also offers a choice of hybrid and electric powertrains, though again, only the former will be earmarked for South Africa in the event of it getting approval. Ruled-out At the other end of the scale, details about the Recon remain unknown, while plans for launching the Meridian, known as the Commander in Brazil, have seemingly been shelved. An uncertainty, for now, is the incoming all-new Cherokee, while the range-topping Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are definitive no-no's due to production being left-hand-drive only. NOW READ: WATCH: Jeep Gladiator puts up a fight like no other bakkie
Bloomberg
17 minutes ago
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Bloomberg Intelligence: Musk Turns to Tesla and SpaceX to Fuel AI Ambitions
Watch Paul LIVE every day on YouTube: Bloomberg Intelligence hosted by Paul Sweeney and Lisa Mateo Craig Trudell, Bloomberg Global Autos Editor, discusses the latest on Tesla. Tesla shareholders will vote on whether to invest in Elon Musk's xAI, the billionaire said, after the Wall Street Journal reported that SpaceX agreed to pump $2 billion into the artificial intelligence startup. Jennifer Bartashus, Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Analyst, Retail Staples & Packaged Food, discusses the potential breakup of Kraft Heinz. Kraft Heinz may be preparing to spin off much of its grocery business, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, marking a shift toward higher-growth condiments and away from legacy brands as the company faces volume pressure. Sam Fazeli, Bloomberg Intelligence, Director of Research for Global Industries and Senior Pharmaceuticals, discusses the latest in the biotech sector. The 30-month stay for FDA approval of Mylan's Wegovy generic expired in June, but the US regulator is still prohibited from approving any Wegovy generic based on data exclusivity expiring in December. A trial has been set to start in early March.
