Over the years at the Gondola Project, we’ve probably seen some of the world’s most awesome-looking and unconventional transit vehicle designs. However, when it comes down to the world’ most kawaii (Japanese for cute) mode of transport, the Hello Kitty Trams seen around the world is by far the clear winner (I challenge you to find a...
There is more than one intriguing feature to the Meran 2000 Bergbahn, an aerial ropeway built in 2010 at the Merano 2000 ski resort in South Tyrol, Italy. At first the it may appear to be a simple (yet stunning) two-cabin tram — the stations are small, the system branded a vibrant red, and the...
The tower infrastructure associated with cable transit is justifiably maligned. It’s utilitarian and rarely pretty. But it doesn’t have to be. Last year, the Royal Institute of British Architects tackled this very issue through their Pylon Design Competition. Now granted, that competition was specifically targeted towards electricity transmission towers, but the same applies here. (Note,...
Over the last two decades the ropeway industry has been dominated by two major groups: Doppelmayr and Leitner-Poma. And during those last two decades, one could reasonably argue that Doppelmayr has spent far more time and attention on cabin design than their rival – to a point where Leitner cabin design has been a little...
The other week we talked about the difference between those features that are intrinsic to a transit technology and those things that are extrinsic. Intrinsic features are those things that make a technology what it is; they define it. Extrinsic features, meanwhile, are those items and factors that affect the cost or operation of the...
I saw this a few days ago and it got me thinking. . . The above picture is of the 25 year old Bonistock Aerial Tram. Nothing impressive, nothing interesting. Or is there? I don’t know about you, but when I look at this system I see something almost sculptural and artistic. It almost reminds...
The Toronto Star has an article today about telecom company Bell Canada disguising cell phone towers as trees in cottage country. It’s an admittedly interesting idea though I’m sure some may have issues with the design. For our purposes, however, (you know where this is going) it certainly opens the debate as to how such...
On this blog there’s a lot of talk about cable as a flexible and adaptable technology for urban transit. CPT can travel above roads and traffic, go through buildings, and cross rivers and gorges. But for all that to work there needs to be space for towers and stations, too. So what happens when a...
Firstly, I’d just like to thank Nick and Julia for pitching in so much these last couple of weeks. I’ve had a hectic schedule of travel and I couldn’t have done it without them. Secondly, I want to throw a question out there for our readers: I recently got into a discussion with a project team...
The privacy issue is widely seen as an obstacle (and a legitimate one at that) for gondola installations in urban areas, especially given their proximity to people’s homes. In the past, here at the Gondola Project, we’ve discussed several solutions. One of the more innovative approaches — the “Smart Glass” technology on the Bukit Panjang LRT...