Posts Tagged: Sweden

29
Nov

2013

Weekly Roundup: Gothenburg (Göteborg), Sweden to Study Urban Cable Car

Goteborg, Sweden 2013 August 1602

Gothenburg (Göteborg), Sweden. Image by Flickr user Tiberio Frascari.

A quick look at some of the things that happened this week in the world of cable cars, urban gondolas, and cable propelled transit:

  • A massive 10km cable car system was proposed this week in Chiang Mai, Thailand by the Pinkanakorn Development Agency — a public entity created this year to enhance tourism and quality of life for area residents. The system is estimated to cost 2 billion Thai baht (USD $62 million) and will connect several destinations including a night safari, Royal Park Ratchaphruek  and the Doi Suthep-Doi Pui National Park.


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Weekly Roundup
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18
Mar

2013

The Longest Cable Car in the World: The Forsby-Köping Limestone Cableway, Sweden

The Forsby-Köping Cableway. Image by flickr user Arvid Rudling.

Sooner or later you’re going to run into someone that preaches as gospel that cable cars can’t do this or can’t do that. Typically, the argument is that cable cars can’t turn corners, can’t have intermediary stations and can’t be built in long configurations. Doesn’t matter whether that’s true or not, they’ll speak it like the word of God.

If you ever find yourself dealing with one of those people, tell them about the Forsby-Köping Limestone Cableway in Sweden.

Like the Norsjö Ropeway before it, the Forsby Cableway does just about everything to dispel any myths you may have about cable car transit systems. Built in 1939, the Forsby is currently the world’s longest functional cable car system. How long? 42 kilometres long.

Let’s ignore for the moment the fact that it’s gondolas carry limestone not people and instead focus on this: 74 years ago Europeans built a 42 kilometre long bicable gondola system. It crossed rails, roads, rivers and lakes. It had five stations. It had three distinct turning stations. It’s still running to this day.

Again: 74 years ago.

Sadly, this landmark system is going to be demolished later this year, though heritage preservationists are trying to prevent it. Here’s hoping they do. And if they don’t, you might as well see it while you can.

If this thing doesn't convince you, nothing will. Image by flickr user Arvid Rudling.



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26
Oct

2011

Size Matters: The Chicamocha Cable Car

The Chicamocha Cable Car. Image via flickr user Squiggle.

Often system length is used as an argument against Urban Gondolas and Cable Cars as a viable form of public transit. And while it’s true that most Cable Car systems are rather modest in length, that doesn’t mean they must be modest in length.

That’s why we once wrote about the Norsjö Aerial Ropeway in Sweden. If you’ll recall, that system was 13.2 kilometers long but was part of a converted mining system from the year 1943. Owing to its mineral extraction origins, the system is incredibly spartan and slow (10 km/hr).

To demonstrate system length we need something a little more – how shall we put it? – current.

Witness, then, the Chicamocha Cable Car near Bucaramanga, Colombia. The system dates from 2009, was built by Poma, uses current MDG technology, has three stations and is a whopping 6.3 kms long – arguably one of the longest systems in the world to use current MDG technology.

Granted the system is in no way, shape, form or description urban (it’s the centrepiece of Colombia’s new Chicamocha National Park), but it’s impressive statistics should demonstrate to anyone asking that current cable technologies can span lengths previously unimagined.

Take a look:




 



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Chicamocha Cable Car / Teleferico
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