The momentum doesn't end with Honolulu
I bring updates from Japan
Okinawa, Japan (which is ironically similar, tropical and tourist-popular) just declared that the inaugural island-wide passenger railway - which will be part urban metro, part intercity-railway - will use SkyTrain technology. As in, the full deal - with linear motor trains and driverless technology. At 69km, this will be the largest one-time SkyTrain technology investment in the world.
SkyTrain was chosen over Tram-Train LRT for providing better transportation and travel time benefits, effectively cutting island cross time in half vs. a popular express bus. And reducing the fare vs. that bus as well.
[LINK] Okinawa, Japan declares SkyTrain technology for 69km railway
This week, a number of articles in Japanese have surfaced, revealing project details and effectively confirming
SkyTrain technology for Okinawa’s first major rapid transit line.
News release: 知事選で高まる気運 リニアモーターを使った沖縄の「普通鉄道」建設構想とは
English: Election momentum growing: plan outlined for Okinawa’s linear motor railway
Translated (Google): [LINK]
The 49km segment between Okinawa City and Naga City will be the
world’s first intercity railway using SkyTrain technology.
It is expected to cut travel time across the island in half, to
58 minutes from the current 1 hour and 45 minutes by rapid express bus. The line will initially use 4-car trains, with 12m long cars – similar to Vancouver’s Mark I SkyTrain vehicles. They will be low-height vehicles capable of running through smaller tunnels.
The new railway will signifcantly improve transit travel times and create a new option to combat rising congestion levels on the Okinawa Expressway, a major toll road crossing the island. The entire railway will be
69km long, which will immediately make it the
third longest SkyTrain-technology rail system in the world upon completion.
(Full details incl. case-study document in link)