Stations

22
Mar

2016

Next-Gen Ropeway Designs: D-Line by Doppelmayr

D-Line Station. Screenshot from Doppelmayr Video.

D-Line Station. Screenshot from Doppelmayr video.

This week Doppelmayr released footage of its next generation ropeway system for detachable lifts, the D-Line. Alongside Youtube videos of the terminal design, the manufacturer also showcased its new cabins and grips.

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Among a slew of new features in the remodeled stations, a few will be be particularly attractive in city environments:

  • Real glass design
  • Low noise bullwheel design
  • Silenced running rail and outer guide rail
  • Low noise grip opening/closing rail
  • Station roof covers entire carrier
  • Outer facade for displaying media content

In terms of the D-Line carriers, the Omega IV-10 SI D provides added passenger comfort as the cabins are now larger than before.

Meanwhile, the Detachable Grip D promises to increase service life and enable greater ease of maintenance. The design has been optimized to accommodate ropes of up to 64mm in diameter and allow up to 1,800kg (4,000lbs) in total carrier weight.
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These features, especially noise reduction, ease of maintenance and larger cabins, will be especially important in the urban market. Further innovations are likely to take place in the future as urban ropeways continue to place greater demands on the technology.



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Doppelmayr / Engineering / Infrastructure / Innovations / Stations
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28
Nov

2013

Google Transit View: Rail, Subway, Airports and… Cable Cars!

We briefly interrupt our scheduled Photo of the Week with an exciting new development from Google.

Starting today, the search engine will let users preview dozens of major global transit locations worldwide with their newest Street View function. This includes 16 airports, 50+ train stations and get this, even the Ngong Ping 360 and Peak Tram in Hong Kong!

Ngong Ping 360 Transit View: Click Here or Image

Ngong Ping 360 Preview

Ngong Ping 360 Preview. Screenshot from Google.

Peak Tram Transit View: Click Here or Image

Peak Tram Preview

Peak Tram Preview. Screenshot from Google.

Map of all the covered locations:


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Without having said, this option will surely help visitors navigate tourists hotspots before making their trip.

But more importantly (at least from a transit planning perspective), is that this function gives practitioners and the general public an entirely new tool to understand the integration, layout, and design of various transport facilities.

As you make your way through the system, you can literally see and experience almost anything or everything at the same time — right down the nitty-gritty details of how much snacks cost or how line queues can be designed.

The fact that two cable systems were included alongside other major transit locations is perhaps a sign of another trend — that is, urban cable systems are finally getting the recognition they deserve.

While not all urban CPT lines are fully integrated into their public transit network, they are undoubtedly vital pieces of transport infrastructure for both tourists and locals alike.

I’m not sure about you guys and maybe I’m dreaming a little, but I certainly can’t wait until the day Google maps out each and every cable car system.



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.

Education / Photo of the Week / Stations
2
Comments
27
May

2013

Station Design: In-Mountain Station, Huashan Xifeng Cable Car, China

From our time on the Gondola Project, we know that gondola station design is incredibly flexible and can be built in almost any scenario and setting. Let’s take a quick recap:

Skyscraper station? Check.

Underground station? Check.

Light and airy station? Check.

And today, thanks to one of our readers, we can now add “in-mountain cavernous cliff-side” stations to the list.

The cable car station is literally carved into the side of the mountain. Image via news.cnwest.com.

The cable car terminal is literally carved into the side of the mountain. Image via news.cnwest.com.

This station is part of the newly inaugurated Huashan Xifeng Cable Car (华山西峰索道) in China’s Shaanxi province. Reports in Chinese indicate that it took more than ten years of feasibility study and four years of construction before the 4.2km system was opened to the public in April 2013. This is likely due to the historical, and religious significance of the site in which the cable car is connecting to (i.e. Mount Hua).

A look inside the in-mountain station. Image via

A look inside the in-mountain station. Image via news.cnwest.com

Another view of in-mountain station. Image via news.cnwest.com

The cable car line is capable of transporting 1500 people per hour to the peak in 20 minutes. The system is likely a welcome sight to the famous Mount Hua tourist area as it is one of the most visited and famous sites in China.



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Infrastructure / Stations
3
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17
Jun

2011

Ten Fascinating (and Little Discussed) Urban Gondola Transit Stations

We talk a lot about station profile and architecture here at The Gondola Project. So I thought it might be fun to track down some little know systems that most of us have probably never even heard of (let alone seen).

As these are all systems with little publicly available information or research, we’re basically judging books by their covers. But it’s just for fun, right?

Not all are necessarily located in urban locations (in fact, most are not), but their individual qualities point to a myriad of ways to implement cable stations into a variety of different urban environments. Take a look:

 

St. Anton's Galzigbahn funitel is both futuristic and elegant at the same time. Most unique is the 'ferris wheel' loading mechanism that allows users to load at ground level - no stairs or elevators necessary! Image by flickr user Dionetian.

Read more



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Stations
3
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