Let’s dive deep into the monorails for a moment. I understand, they bear a heavy burden of whack jokes. It is true that monorails are looked down upon, perhaps because of their image as a useless advanced form of transport which lacks basic efficiency. With that being said, there is hope!
A monorail that operates successfully and is in working order. Not just that, it achieves something rather spectacular. It functions. As in, not existing solely for tourists or photo ops. Instead, it serves as an advanced transport system – the type that one would expect from Japan.
This monorail, which I am sure one has heard about, is the monorail in Tokyo’s Haneda airport. It requires more respect than people are willing to give it.
Why Not Monorails? (And Why They Are Loved)
To begin with, unlike most methods of commuting, I would love to suggest to you that the word monorail is not strapped to a cult. Unlike the spelling, it has different connotations which I assure you is unlike any system of transport. A monorail stands out in not requiring the use of normal tracks. Talk about new progression in the world of engineering and innovation! As unconventional as exercise is to many, so is the concept of funneling the functionality of a transport aid into an airplane.
For starters, their guideways (the “rails” they run on) are super slim. In comparison to other forms of elevated rail transit, these structures are less intrusive visually, which is great for highly developed urban centers. Monorails are also able to tackle steeper slopes and tighter curves, giving them added maneuverability in harsh urban settings.
The Haneda Monorail, built by Hitachi, is a prime example on how to do monorails right. Its novelty value aside, it operates as a full-fledged service of Tokyo’s transit network.
The Haneda Monorail: A Quick History
The Haneda Monorail was born out of necessity during the time Japan hosted the 1964 Summer Olympic Games. They needed to figure out a way to transport thousands of tourists from Haneda Airport to the city center. Cue the Monorail.
The line was opened specifically to coincide with the Olympics and served to connect commuters from Haneda Airport to Hamamatsucho Station, from where they could switch to the famed Yamanote Line. And it is not just functional, it’s also spectacular – a large portion of the route goes over water, exposing the breathtaking Tokyo Bay and the built up city. There’s even a ridiculous underwater tunnel to add to the charm. Here are the random lists of Haneda Monorail stations:
- Seibijo
- Haneda Airport Terminal 1
- Tennozu Isle
- Shin-Seibijo
- Haneda Airport Terminal 2
- Oi Keibajo-mae
- Tenkubashi
- Haneda Airport Terminal 3
- Ryutsu Center
- Hamamatsucho
But here’s the juiciest part – the Haneda Monorail didn’t remain idle only as an airport shuttle. It evolved over the years, adding new stations to serve growing neighborhoods while also becoming an integral part of Tokyo’s transport network. Today it serves more than just tourists – it is also a commuter’s lifesaver.
How does it do this? (And what makes it so good?)
It has 11 stations and is 18 kilometers long, with an uninterrupted stretching from Hamamatsucho Station in the city bordering to Haneda Airport. Trains arrive every four to five minutes, with non-stop peak hour express buses running from the heart of the city to the airport.
But here’s the animated part – the monorail is able to provide both local as well and express services on mostly double-track lines. How? It comes down to service planning and the design of the infrastructure.
Get nerdy with us for a second. To explain how this works, I have to introduce string diagrams. These diagrams are graphs representing a specific time frame in which trains move along a route. By mapping out the locations of train interlocks or crisscrossing routes, planners can determine the best places to install interchanging tracks or modify existing timetable channels tobetter utilize capacity.
Shoejiam Station marks the clever design of bypass tracks for express trains on the Haneda Monorail. Local trains depart the terminals just a couple of minutes before the express and by the time the express train catches up, they’re near Shoejiam where the tracks let them pass.
Mixing local service trains and express services is a problem in itself; it’s a waste in capacity. For example, during rush hour when capacity is critical, the monorail allows the relaunch of it’s local service which means no express trains. This higher frequency of trains reduces the number of passengers per service hour. In other times, they can get more people onboard an express service train.
So, what flexibility does the Haneda Monorail teach us?
- From the monorail, we understand that adaptability is important. The monorail was built along the newer developed cities and added new stations and services to its routes.
- We also gather that service planning is important; the local services with fewer stops and express services is a balance of maximized efficiency and capacity.
- Last but not least, monorails only work if they’re dealt with properly. It’s not just a gimmick when done right; they are a solution.
Concluding Thoughts
The Haneda Monorail serves as a reminder that no matter how odd the transit technology, as long as it is executed properly, it can succeed. It is more than just a monorail; it is a piece of the Japan railways puzzle.
So, next time someone asks why you should care about monorails and brushes it off as some gadgetbahn, talk to them about the Haneda. It isn’t just cool; it is a genius example of superb transit planning.
