…is one of the largest manufacturers of public transit technologies in the world. And guess where they began.
They started out building snow-mobiles.
Feel free to draw your own comparisons.
…is one of the largest manufacturers of public transit technologies in the world. And guess where they began.
They started out building snow-mobiles.
Feel free to draw your own comparisons.
7 Comments
Well Rolls Royce has become an airplane and helicopter engine manufacturer. Apparently money’s in planes and trains these days.
and Mitsubishi dabbled in cable
https://www.gondolaproject.com/2010/11/03/the-midorizaka-skyrail/
maybe doppelmayer should try out snowmobiles and ski-doos now, too?
Snowmobiles and Ski-Doos is old hat…check out page 24 of the WIR magazine:
http://www.doppelmayr.com/uploads/media/WIR_2008_09_ENG.pdf
(and you’ll notice the cover from 2008 is CPT)
Honestly if transit planners summon the courage to implement CPT the ropeway engineers and designers are here to help you succeed.
@BC
I think it’s a combination of courage on the part of the planners, but it’s also about courage on the part of the industry. Planners won’t just graft ski lifts onto their transit networks, they need to see the industry come to the table first and say “we’re no longer ski lifts (exclusively), we’re also transit, and here’s what we’ve done to prove it.”
That explains the looks of Bombardiers products. Same for Doppelmayr. Design just seems to be out of the question.
In my opinion those old alpine cabins (like the Roosevelt Island Tramway) have more character than the newer faceless cable-attached “boxes”.
Well you could also compare Lamborghini as a tractor manufacturer, or the VW beetle as a by Hitler ordered and by Porsche developed car. Other way around: a lot of manufacturers with fantastic ideas didn’t make it or lost track in time.
Von Roll cable installations for instance amaze me everytime I see them. It’s like when you look at old (and/or good) bridges. With one view it is clear to see engineering and design just went hand in hand. And especially those Bombardier trams are missing this fact and should look for a face/character.
Same with cars. But that industry is more competetive. I’d expect better results if there were more pressure.
@ LX
I think the competition issue is key. But what I don’t understand is why transit technology builders don’t spend more time caring about the comfort and style of the vehicles. At least within the north american transit industry, there’s a clear move towards Level of Service which includes things such as comfort and pleasantness.
It seems to me that when a city is spending millions (billions?) of dollars on public transit, the least the manufacturers could do is include a cup holder.
@LX
I agree, but now they’re starting to make new cars and cabins. Seen the new Roosevelt Tram yet? Sure, they may not be the greatest, but it’s a bit of an improvement…
http://www.leitner-poma.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=8&pid=171#top_display_media