Post by Steven Dale
The Stanserhorn CabriO.
This is the Stanserhorn Cabrio, a planned system for a mountain resort in Luzern, Switzerland. The system is not yet built (clearly) but the community is hopeful that they can raise enough money through local shareholders to make it happen.
(That last part about ‘community’ and ‘local shareholders’ should catch your attention, but I’ll get to that another day.)
So here’s the question:
If you can double your capacity on an Aerial Tram by building a double-decker vehicle, could you not also do the same on other cable technologies? How about on a 3S or Funitel? Doing so would increase maximum capacity of aerial systems up to 10-12,000 pphpd, which is enormous compared to most medium capacity technologies. It would be a game changer.
Doubling the height of transit vehicles isn’t so strange a concept. It’s common practice on commuter rails, buses and even on streetcar trolleys in Hong Kong.
Double Decker Trams in Hong Kong. Image by Smiley Man with a Hat.
I can’t imagine any essential reason why such a configuration couldn’t be accomplished. Double Decker gondolas would likely have a impact on station design, but that shouldn’t render the concept impossible. Furthermore, as vehicles are not the major cost of a system (nor the major load), doubling system capacity via Double-Deckering (let’s pretend that’s a word, okay?) should only result in a marginal increase in cost.
One of the things I truly love about cable is its flexibility and adaptability. It’s as much an art as a science.
Check out more pictures of the CabriO.
Want more? Purchase Cable Car Confidential: The Essential Guide to Cable Cars, Urban Gondolas & Cable Propelled Transit and start learning about the world's fastest growing transportation technologies.
Want more? Purchase Cable Car Confidential: The Essential Guide to Cable Cars, Urban Gondolas & Cable Propelled Transit and start learning about the world's fastest growing transportation technologies.
