Posts Tagged: japan

20
Nov

2014

Cable Car Photo of the Week: Aichi – Morizo Gondola

Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan. Image by Flickr user Dom Pates.

Photographer: 

Photo by Flickr user Dom Pates.

About:

Every Thursday, the Gondola Project team will select stunning captures of CPT lines. We hope this will continue to bring more attention to the technology and provide visually impactful examples of cable car systems worldwide. If you’d like to submit or nominate a picture for our “Photo of the Week”, we’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below or send us an email at gondola@creativeurbanprojects.com.



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15
Jul

2014

Farm Ropeways in Japan

After we blogged about portable agricultural cableways last week, we received a number of emails from our readers in response. One of the most interesting messages came from Quentin and he has shared with us a video he found of an aerial farm ropeway operating in Japan. Check it out.

Unfortunately, beyond this video there doesn’t seem to be much information about the history and use of these systems in Japan. However, a similar ropeway seen on Mochi-Kou Machinery website indicates that it’s used to transport oranges and tea from the mountains.

If you happen to know more about these systems, we’d love to hear from you. Please send us an email at gondola@creativeurbanprojects.com.



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05
Mar

2012

Techno-Squabbles and Dual Mode Vehicles – RailBus, BusRail

DMV vehicles were developed based on a collaborative effort between Nissan and Japan Rail Hokkaido. Image from Wikipedia.

Last Thursday, we briefly looked at AutoTrams – an attempt to combine the best (or worst, depending on your perspective) of both worlds in rail and bus technology. We’ve had a fairly robust debate in our comments section on the benefits and limitations of such a configuration. Then I thought, what would happen if you take this idea to the next logical step?

To my surprise, such a concept exists and it’s called the DMV (Dual Mode Vehicle) – a vehicle capable of running on both rail tracks and rubber wheels. Apparently, this concept is not entirely new and  first attempted during the 1930s in England but failed due to excessive time required to switch modes (bus to rail and vice versa) and costs related to develop system.

A DMV vehicle can switch between modes in less than 15 seconds. Image by Hokkaido Railway Company.

But this time around, the DMV is experiencing substantial success. First started in 2005, the vehicle is now under testing in Japan and has enabled Japan Rail Hokkaido to continue providing convenient, point-to-point and profitable (important because existing rail services have been in debt due to low ridership) transport for small, rural towns with declining populations. According to some new sources in Japan, the system is expect to go public sometime this year.

Given the flexibility, uniqueness, and innovativeness of these vehicles, they’re surprisingly not that expensive and within the right context, may be able to fulfill a niche within the urban transit market. According the Miami Herald, it costs USD $250,000 for a 28 passenger vehicle with low fuel and maintenance costs (for immediate comparison purposes – light rail vehicle: ~$3,000,000 (link 1, link 2); trolley bus: $850,000-1,300,000; standard regular bus: $250,000-400,000; hybrid bus: $480,000-750,000 (link 1, link 2).

The best part of this vehicle lies in its duality. The flexibility of a bus, but the comfort and appeal of rail. Well… maybe not appeal, the design needs some work, but it’s not impossible to fix. You may exclaim, what about capacity!? It’s too low!! Based on online sources, vehicles can be linked. See for yourself.

2 vehicles at 28 passenger capacities = 56 passengers. Image by kitouin.fc2web.com.

3x28 = 84 passengers (in case you were wondering if three vehicles can be linked). Image by Asahi.com

So could the successful implementation of a DMVs put an end to some of the meaningless technological squabbles? Since it’s both a bus and rail vehicle, maybe some transit specialists and decision makers can set aside their differences and instead, concentrate on improving transit service.

It’s hard to argue for BRT or LRT if the vehicle is both rail and bus at the same time. But then again, given the techno-zealotry that exists in transit planning, it could spawn an entirely new ball game. BRT vs. LRT vs. DMV anyone?

For more pictures of this system, click here.



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16
Jan

2012

Yoshino Ropeway – World’s First CPT?

Gondola Project largely began because we noticed that there was a lack of accurate online educational resources on cable technology. Over these past years, we’ve helped a lot people from all backgrounds learn more about CPT systems by separating fact from fiction.

As we know, despite our best efforts, a gap still exists within cable literature (especially with the Algerian cable systems), due in large part to language barriers. While we initially thought that the Roosevelt Island Tram was one of the world’s first CPT system, we may be 47 years off.

Yoshino Ropeway is a 350m long aerial tram system that takes riders up to Yoshino Mountain in about 3 minutes time. Image by 3ff.jp.

The Yoshino Ropeway (website is in Japanese) in Yoshino, Japan was built in 1929, and is considered the oldest operating and surviving cable system in the country. It may very well be the earliest example of Cable Propelled Transit on the planet

According to Wikipedia, it not only provides transportation for tourists wishing to access Mount Yoshino, but it is a form of public transport for residents living in the vicinity.

As can be seen from Google Maps, the cable system is highly interconnected with the transit network – the Yoshino Railway Line is only a short walk from the Senbonguchi gondola station. This system is 82 years old and aside from cabin and cable updates, it still operates with the same infrastructure and span. Surely, this system is a testament to the reliability and durability of cable transport.

Interestingly enough, the system is likely a highly endeared and cherished local landmark – the two cabins are actually named: Kaede (Maple) and Sakura (Cherry).

Here is a video that gives you a full tour of the system. Enjoy!

 

If anyone has more information and insight on this unique cable system, we’d love to hear about it.



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30
Nov

2011

Glass Dome Escalator – Uenohara, Japan

Incline Escalator: As can be seen, the glass domed tube – when designed properly – can be aesthetically pleasing and a delightful piece of architecture. Image by Panoramio user tsushima. 

Last month, Steven discovered an interesting/unconventional use for funicular technology in Horw, Swtizerland. Essentially a small development was built on a hillside, with a funicular acting as an elevator. Instead of connecting floors in a building, it moved between houses on a hillside.

Because of this funicular, it largely increased the hillside’s market value and made the site developable.

At that time, it was thought that this type of development concept was rare but (perhaps) it’s more common than we initially thought — especially in land-constrained and topographically-challenged locales.

In Uenohara, Japan – a city of 30,000 people that’s an hour drive west of Toyko – there exists a variation of this concept. Instead of using a funicular to provide access on a hill, they decided to build a 230m long glass tubed escalator that connects the Shiotsu Train station (at the bottom) to the Komoa Shiotsu hilltop community (at the top). The development, which was started in the early 90’s, is now a vibrant community complete with amenities which include schools, supermarkets and clinics.

Exterior View: Glass Tube Escalator – Uenohara, Japan. Image from Wikipedia.

Interior View:  Escalator ride is ~6 minutes. Image from blog.livedoor.jp.

This glass domed escalator  is a fine example of an ingenious and simple solution that not only maximizes the development potential/property value of the previously inaccessible hilltop lands, it drastically increases accessibility for residents who are now directly connected to one of Japan’s main trunk railway lines. This escalator connection is also important for the rail operator as it increases its station’s catchment area which brings in more riders. All in all, a win-win situation for all parties.

Legend: ORANGE – Hilltop Community; RED – Glass Domed Escalator; PURPLE – Train Station. 

While the escalator doesn’t completely eliminate the need for vehicles (i.e. there is a winding road that connects to the community), it does encourage and enable residents to be more multi-modal.

This form of escalator/funicular oriented development is worthy of more research and discussion as it could be a potential solution that maximizes the use and efficiency of all lands within an urban setting.

 



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01
Nov

2011

Introducing: The 4S or ‘Wild Monkey Cableway’

The 3S is so last year.

Apparently there exists an additional category of of gondola system unique to Japan known as a ‘Wild Monkey Cableway.’

From what we can surmise (and what we can surmise is very little), the systems are highly vernacular; made of wood; supported and/or propelled by a series of 4 ropes; and are propelled by vehicle passengers’ hands or feet via bicycle-like mechanism.

Are they Cable Propelled Transit? Arguably. But we don’t think you’ll be seeing any in dense urban centres any time soon.

At the same time, we want to ride those things now.

Take a look:

 

Wild Monkey Crossing in Tokushima, Japan. Image by Only on the Keihin.

 

Wild Monkey Bridge in Totsukawa Village, Japan. Image by Wiki0001.

Wild Monkey Cableway in Naga Town, Japan. Image by Bergmann.

 

 



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15
Aug

2011

CABLEGRAPH: High Speed Rail



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